Andy Carroll’s dream start to his managerial career continued on Saturday as his Dagenham & Redbridge side beat Hampton & Richmond Borough in his second match in charge.
Carroll, 37, was appointed as the Daggers’ caretaker manager last 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 last Saturday as his side secured a 1-0 win over play-off rivals Torquay United, with KSI watching on in glee.
On Saturday, the social media megastar was in attendance again as he watched his side win 3-1 to claim victory in their third match in a row and continue their charge towards the play-offs.
Former Liverpool and England man Carroll seems to be taking his new role in his stride and celebrated passionately as Stan Leech scored a first-half hat-trick for the Essex-based side.
Andy Carroll continued his dream start to management on Saturday as his Dagenham & Redbridge side won again
New minority owner KSI has seen his first appointment win his first two matches in charge
He wore all black and carried a calm demeanor on the sidelines until his side found the back of the net.
KSI, meanwhile, wore a club shirt and celebrated on the pitch at full-time.
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.
KSI watched on from the stands as the game was livestreamed once again, before making his way onto the pitch to celebrate
Carroll, who is injured, plays for the club but has been placed in charge by social media star KSI
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. Saturday’s game was also livestreamed.
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.’
