Dover Athletic manager Jake Leberl speaks glowingly of the impression Mike Sandmann has made since his club return ahead of National League South trip at Weymouth

Manager Jake Leberl has spoken glowingly of the positive impression Dover coach Mike Sandmann has made since his club return.

Leberl and Sandmann - in charge of Whites’ highly successful Academy - worked together when Leberl was then-boss Chris Kinnear’s assistant.

The pair have re-united in Dover’s National League South survival bid as part of their new-look management team, with Sandmann knowing plenty about a first-team squad which includes a plethora of youth-team products.

“Mike’s been absolutely brilliant,” said Leberl.

“Obviously, I knew Mike from before - but I didn’t know how good he was, if I’m honest. He’s been a breath of fresh air.

“He knows a lot of the boys that came through the Academy. We’ve settled in really quickly and I’m really happy with everything so far.”

Whites’ squad are pretty youthful, bar 34-year-old captain James Dunne.

Leberl believes their young players are in the right place to be given more opportunities in senior football - despite a goalless draw at home to Bath City last weekend seeing Dover drop to the foot of the table.

He said: “If I was a young player, this is the club I’d want to be at with Mike and me.

“We’re here to help these kids push on and teach them about men’s football - to understand roles and responsibilities. I think it’ll be a good place to be, moving forward.

“Obviously, this season, with where we’re at, [it will be hard]. A few back-to-back wins and the table can change - but that’s a long way off.

“All we’ve got is a point, a clean sheet and a start.”

Whites slipped to the bottom of the table as big-spending Havant & Waterlooville, who had sacked ex-Dartford boss Steve King, earned a third successive win through a 3-0 triumph over Taunton.

Leberl said: “The Havant