Nicky Forster says he ‘can’t wait to get going’ after being appointed as Dover’s new manager following the sacking of Martin Hayes.

The former Brentford caretaker manager (pictured) was appointed by Whites chairman Jim Parmenter on Tuesday and oversaw his first training session with the players that night.

After being sounded-out by Mr Parmenter with pressure mounting on Hayes, it emerged Forster was in the stands for Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Havant & Waterlooville which Mr Parmenter described as ‘the trigger’ for the changes.

Forster told his followers on social networking site twitter: "Thanks for all my messages of congratulations and support. I am delighted to be Dover Athletic manager. I can’t wait to get going now.

"Training was bright and positive and looking forward to Saturday already."

After starting the season with back-to-back 4-0 wins, Hayes had overseen just one win in nine games, leaving Dover 12th in Blue Square Bet South.

Mr Parmenter said: "The performance on Saturday was our poorest of the season and it was the trigger. We had anticipated a good reaction in light of some of our recent results but that did not happen.

"Some teams would be happy with 12th but we have a higher ambition than that.

"It was a difficult decision in the respect that Martin is a thoroughly decent fellow but it was one that had to be made.

"We had 25 applicants in the 24 hours following the announcement but Nick is someone who has been on our radar for a while. This is a well thought-out move, it is not knee-jerk."