Andy Hessenthaler is Dover Athletic's new manager.

The 53-year-old replaces Chris Kinnear, who was sacked on Friday.

Hessenthaler has signed a three-year deal at Crabble after leaving their National League rivals Eastleigh.

Dover chairman Jim Parmenter said: "We are delighted to be able to move so quickly to secure Andy’s services and we are now looking forward to working with him and his team.

"This is a brand new chapter for the football club and it starts right now."

Hessenthaler was previously in charge at Crabble from 2007 to 2010, leading Whites to back-to-back promotions as they climbed from Ryman League Division 1 South to Conference South.

He returns to Crabble with Dover second-bottom in the National League, having gone 11 games without a win and conceded more goals (32) than anyone else in the league.

Hessenthaler’s first match in charge will be away to third-placed Harrogate Town on Saturday, while his Crabble return won’t come until October 30 when Dover host fellow strugglers Dagenham & Redbridge.

Between those comes a huge visit to Braintree - the only side below Dover – on October 27.

Hessenthaler left Dover in May 2010 to take the manager’s job at Gillingham, who had just been relegated to League 2.