Andy Carroll enjoyed a perfect start to his managerial career as he won his first game in charge of Dagenham & Redbridge.
Carroll, 37, was appointed as the Daggers’ caretaker manager on Wednesday after new minority owner KSI decided to sack former boss Lee Bradbury.
That decision came despite the club beating Farnborough on Tuesday night in what turned out to be Bradbury’s final game to leave them in 12th place in the National League South.
But Carroll’s reign began in the best possible way on Saturday as his side secured a 1-0 win over play-off rivals Torquay United.
Former Tottenham youngster George Marsh scored the decisive goal in the 74th minute to take the Daggers within five points of their opponents, who sit in the final play-off spot in the National League South.
Carroll, who was dressed in smart casual attire, seemed to relish the experience and he was seen celebrating passionately when Marsh put his side ahead.
Andy Carroll got his managerial career off to the perfect start as Dagenham & Redbridge beat Torquay United in his first game in charge
Carroll was put in caretaker charge after the Daggers decided to sack Lee Bradbury this week
KSI watched on from the stands at Dagenham’s Chigwell Construction Stadium on Saturday
Carroll, who joined Dagenham last summer but is currently injured, also holds a minority stake in the club, and he watched the first game of KSI’s tenure next to the YouTuber-turned-boxer earlier this month.
He signed for Dagenham as a player after leaving Bordeaux and had netted six times in 12 games until he suffered the injury in December.
Carroll’s appointment as caretaker boss also came despite him being due to stand trial next January after pleading not guilty to breaching a non-molestation order having been accused of repeatedly calling his ex-wife Billi Mucklow, with whom he shares three children.
A non-molestation order is handed out at civil court and designed to stop someone going near another person.
Breaching a non-molestation order can lead to a maximum of five years in prison.
Meanwhile, KSI caused a stir with his purchase of a stake in Dagenham earlier this month.
The YouTube star, whose real name is Olajide Olayinka Williams ‘JJ’ Olatunji, then received a rapturous reception from fans as he arrived at his first game, a 1-0 win over Dorking Wanderers.
The 32-year-old even live streamed his time at the game, with a camera following his and Carroll’s every move in the stands.
Carroll (right) pictured celebrating after George Marsh put his side ahead in the second half
KSI’s presence attracted attention again and he will have been delighted with the result
The pair were mic’d up and both celebrated wildly when Aramide Oteh scored the decisive goal in the second half.
KSI’s impact was evident elsewhere too. The attendance for that match was 2,281, more than double the previous home game before he invested.
Speaking after his purchase, he had outlined his ambitions as he said: ‘It’s surreal, bro, out of this world. The idea of it excites me so much.
‘Years ago, I saw the excitement, the happiness, the joy. I want to bring that back and then surpass it.
‘I want the place to be pumping, I want it to be rocking, I want it to be an event whenever you come here.
‘Playing a video game and owning a football club is very different, I know that, but with Race to Division One (his Fifa YouTube series), it was a journey. It was hard, but in the end, I did it.’
KSI continued: ‘With this club, I want to do the unthinkable. I want to take Dagenham and Redbridge to the Premier League.
‘It’s obviously going to take time, but I’d say the realistic goal is getting out of this league and entering the National League.
‘We need to improve the team, make some additions that really take it to another level, and I want to build the community.’
