Chris Kinnear has agreed to become the new manager of Blue Square Bet South Dover after quitting Margate.

Whites placed former boss Nicky Forster on "gardening leave" on Friday afternoon and Margate confirmed rumours on Saturday morning that Kinnear will take up the Crabble hotseat with immediate effect.

Kinnear became Margate manager for the second time in April 2011 and has taken the team to third in the Ryman League Premier Division this season. He takes over a Dover side who sit in the same position in the division above - but have lost their last five games.

Margate CEO Cliff Egan told his club's website: “Chris has done a great job here at Margate and the board would like to thank him for all his hard work.

“At the moment, we are unable to compete with the resources that Dover can offer their manager.

“Chris spent last night thinking about the offer on the table. He came to the conclusion that it would be a great opportunity to test himself at a higher level.

“I know he loves Margate and it wasn’t an easy decision for him, but I understand why he has made it. He leaves the club with our best wishes.”

Margate added that Kinnear and his assistant Jake Leberl, who will also move to Dover in the same role, will take their last training session with the players on Saturday while the search for a new manager is already under way.

Dover chairman Jim Parmenter took the decision to relieve Forster of his managerial duties following an emergency board meeting on Friday. Whites had enjoyed a purple patch of form before Christmas but their recent slump was highlighted last Saturday when they were 5-0 down at Farnborough before half-time.

Forster and his assistant Steve Brown both signed two-year contracts at Crabble which run until the end of next season while they have been able to spend substantial transfer fees in attracting Daryl McMahon and Moses Ademloa from league rivals Eastleigh during the current campaign.

Should Dover have replaced Nicky Forster as manager? Is Chris Kinnear the right man to earn promotion this season? Have your say in our comments section below.