Dover Athletic defender Tyrone Sterling says 28-year-old boss Mitch Brundle's age is irrelevant and squad are fully behind their new manager

Age is just a number for Dover defender Tyrone Sterling.

The Grenada international is much older than boss Mitch Brundle - but that doesn’t bother him.

He said: “I’ve known him for a while and, obviously, we’ve played here together as well.

“He’s a good guy and he’s confident. He wants us to believe in what he’s doing - and we all do. Age is nothing, as long as he’s got a plan and he knows what he wants to do. We’ll stick by him.

“Everyone can learn from everyone, I think, and it’s important that we just back him.”

Brundle, 28, hasn’t taken to the field since he replaced Andy Hessenthaler as manager of the National League South outfit last month - but did play alongside Sterling while he was player-assistant manager earlier in the season.

“It’s a tough one, I’ll be honest,” replied Sterling when asked if he viewed Brundle more as his manager or as a team-mate.

“Because we’ve played with him for half the season and he’s now in that role, it’s difficult. But I think he still wants to be our mates.

“He’s made some tough decisions, as you’ve already seen, but it’s hard work and we’ll stick with him.”

But 35-year-old Sterling is still some way younger than veteran goalkeeper Stuart Nelson. While Sterling scored in Dover’s 2-1 weekend home win over Eastbourne, 41-year-old Nelson made big saves in either half, including a spectacular second-half save as he tipped a free-kick against the crossbar before he gathered the loose ball.

“As a defender, when you have got a goalkeeper just talking constantly, it keeps you switched on,” explained Sterling. “It makes a difference.

“Then, to pull out the save that he has, it keeps you in the game. Those are big moments.

“Their goalie (ex-Whites man Lee Worgan) has done the same thing.