Former Dover Athletic player Jake Leberl becomes club’s assistant manager once again

A popular figure has become Dover’s assistant manager once again.

Jake Leberl, a utility man who featured in both defence and midfield during his playing days, returns to Crabble, having been Chris Kinnear’s No.2, before he was sacked five years ago.

Whites boss Mitch Brundle has been working without an assistant since the 2023/24 National League South campaign got under way - although he’s been supported at times by scout Errol Johnson.

Brundle appointed two different people to the assistant position this summer - firstly Ricky Holmes and then ex-Sutton Common Rovers joint-manager Lee Flavin - only for both to swiftly u-turn on their respective decisions to join struggling Dover.

Leberl made almost 200 appearances for Whites between 1997 and 2002 and rejoined under then-boss Andy Hessenthaler in the summer of 2009 after he had been released by AFC Wimbledon.

Among the 46-year-old’s other old clubs are Margate, Dagenham & Redbridge and Faversham, where he was player-coach.

He also worked alongside Kinnear as Whites battled it out at the top-end of the National League in some of the club’s best-ever years.

With the news being announced on Friday afternoon, Leberl told the club website: “[I am] looking forward to getting back involved with the club that’s played a massive part in my life and career, and [I] am thankful to be given the opportunity by Mitch and Jim (Parmenter, chairman).

“I helped bring Mitch to the club as a player and we had some great times, so I am looking forward to picking up where we left off.

“I fully appreciate it’s a different club to when I left last and is going to be an extremely difficult challenge but, hopefully, I can pass on my knowledge I’ve picked up throughout on to the group to make us