New Dover Athletic manager Martin Hayes has filled the coaching gap left by Nicky Southall’s departure to Gillingham.

Hayes has appointed Paul Joynes, who was his No.2 at Bishop’s Stortford for three-and-a-half years, as assistant manager at Crabble following Southall’s decision to link up again with Andy Hessenthaler at Priestfield – despite having earlier verbally accepted an offer to become Whites’ player-assistant manager next season.

Hayes (pictured) said: "I was aware when I took over that Nicky might decide to go to Gillingham because of his close working relationship with Andy.

"I didn’t speak to him but, to be honest, there’s no point in keeping someone who doesn’t want to stay.

"And I’m happy to have Paul as my assistant-manager. We enjoyed some good years together at Stortford, with cup runs and getting to the (Blue Square South) play-offs."

Joynes’ playing career included stints at Purfleet, Tilbury, Billericay Town, Concorde Rangers, Aveley and Romford, where he was player-manager. He then managed Tilbury and Aveley before linking up with Hayes at Stortford in 2005.

Southall, meanwhile, said that the chance to return to Gillingham as player-coach had been too good to turn down.

The 38-year-old, who had an excellent season in Whites colours as they reached the Blue Square South play-offs, said: "When Andy called me to ask if I’d come back, Dover hadn’t been in contact and I assumed their new boss would want his own assistant.

"As far as I was concerned, the opportunity arose at Gillingham and being a Gills man through and through, it was too good to turn down."