Nicky Southall speaks following Dover Athletic departure

Nicky Southall has spoken out following his Dover departure.

His exit from his coaching role was announced last week, with the Crabble club saying he was unable to commit to Dover’s new training schedule.

But Southall says he was actually still discussing with his full-time employers if he could change his work schedule to ensure he was able to continue in his Dover role as they start training three mornings a week.

“I was probably a week or so down the line,” he said of those discussions.

“Andy [Hessenthaler, Dover’s manager] went away and we all wanted a break.

“We’d had a conversation before and the club said that they wanted me to speak to my current employers and I was in the middle of doing that.

“Obviously I had a conversation with Andy and it was quite a difficult one.

“But listen, I don’t want to go into that too much because of repercussions in the future.

“We know people come and go at football clubs and I wish Dover all the best.

“I know that I put 150% into the club and I think a lot of people appreciated that.

“There are a lot of good people there.”

Southall has previously had a player-boss role at Whitstable and spent four years as Maidstone’s assistant before his three-and-a-half-year stint with Dover.

That came after an illustrious career which saw the Gillingham favourite also play for Hartlepool, Grimsby, Bolton and Nottingham Forest.

And the 50-year-old says he is eager for a swift return into the game.

He commented: “It’s my occupation.

“You don’t play for 30-odd years and then go into coaching if it’s not your occupation, do you?”

Southall’s departure comes after Whites were relegated from the National League last season, having only won two matches all campaign, after they had started the season on