Dover Athletic relegated from National League South | Second relegation in three years for Whites
Published: 17:31, 29 March 2024
Dover’s relegation from National League South was confirmed on Good Friday.
They went down 1-0 at Welling, who themselves moved seven points clear of the drop zone thanks to on-loan Coventry man Riccardo Di Trolio first goal for the club.
Dover have won just three games out of 41 this season, and the Welling loss made it 11 league games without a win. Their last success in the league was a 1-0 home win over Slough in January.
Relegation ends Dover’s National League spell after 15 years, a period which saw them finish as high as fifth in the National League in 2015/16.
It’s a second relegation in three years for Whites, who were relegated from the National League in 2021/22 after winning just two of 44 league games.
They only stayed up last season on the final day – on goal difference – and have changed manager this season, replacing Mitch Brundle with Jake Leberl in December but he’s been unable to change their fortunes around.
Dover were last in Isthmian Premier in 2008/09 when they won the division with an amazing tally of 104 points from 42 games. It was a second championship in successive seasons after they won the Isthmian South title in 2007/08.
Dover host Chelmsford on Easter Monday and then have trips to Hemel Hempstead, Hampton and Truro before entertaining champions-elect Yeovil on the final day of the season on April 20.
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Matthew Panting