Chris Dengate says he can imagine how David Moyes felt replacing Sir Alex Ferguson as Manchester United manager after being appointed head coach at Dover Rugby Club.

The 36-year-old, who was already Sharks’ assistant coach, has taken over main coaching duties following the departure of long serving Graham Tonks and says he knows he has some big boots to fill.

Dengate, whose side are locked in a London 1 South relegation battle, said: “My hopes for the rest of the season are to stay up but it’s a hard task and a hard task following someone like Graham after all he has done for the club. I feel as if I’m the David Moyes of Dover RFC.”

Sharks have won just two of their 15 league matches to date but Dengate - who previously played for Whitstable and Thanet Wanderers - believes they have the talent to avoid the drop.

He also revealed that he wants the side to play a more direct style for the rest of the season and hopes to recruit former England Sevens star Dan Caprice to work with the three-quarters.

First team manager Mike Marsh paid tribute to the efforts of Tonks, who stepped down as head coach after the 41-14 defeat at Chobham in the last game before Christmas.

Marsh explained: “Graham left before Christmas, he’d been the head coach for 14 years and had done an immense amount of work.

“He saw us through from Kent 2 to where we are now but ultimately decided he needed to take a break.

“I think he’d burned himself out a bit and decided to step aside for the good of the team.
“He still comes down watching and he’ll be helping out with the youngsters.”