Dagenham and Redbridge have sacked manager Lee Bradbury just two weeks after YouTuber KSI became a minority shareholder
KSI has appointed a former Premier League star as interim boss at Dagenham and Redbridge, weeks after purchasing the National League South outfit.
KSI, real name Olajide Olayinka Williams Olatunji, was unveiled as a minority stakeholder of the ex-Football League outfit at the start of March. Just a fortnight later, Lee Bradbury has been dismissed from his role at the Daggers following seven months at the helm.
The move arrives with the club sitting six points adrift of the play-offs and fewer than 24 hours after securing a 3-2 victory away to Farnborough.
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The club, who compete in the seventh tier of English football – two divisions beneath League Two, announced in a statement: “Dagenham and Redbridge Football Club can confirm that we have parted company with First-Team Manager, Lee Bradbury.
“We are very grateful to Lee for his focus, professionalism, and commitment during his time at the Club and for his contributions, both on and off the pitch, to stabilise the club last summer.
“Dagenham and Redbridge wish him every success in his future endeavours. Andy Carroll will take the team on an interim basis, and further updates will be communicated in due course.”
Carroll possesses 248 Premier League appearances, netting 54 goals throughout a career spanning Newcastle, Liverpool and West Ham United.
The 37-year-old had become Dagenham and Redbridge’s key player following his arrival in July, but it has now been revealed that he has joined their roster of shareholders.
In February, the National League South outfit was acquired by Happy Fan Group LLC, an investment consortium headed by John Grabowski.
KSI was then confirmed as a shareholder and strategic partner at the start of this month, with the 32-year=old outlining his vision to propel the non-league side to the Premier League.
Drawing from Wrexham’s successful Disney+ format, KSI will document a series about the club in a ‘Race To The Top’ programme that will launch this summer on the YouTuber’s channel.
He said: “I’ve done boxing, music, YouTube content, I’ve been around the world, I’m a man that does whatever he wants, you can never stop doing what you want. I’m going to buy Dagenham and Redbridge Football Club.
“The idea excites me so much. Years ago, I saw the happiness, the joy, I want to bring that back and surpass it. I want the place to be pumping, I want the place to be rocking, be an event when you come here.
“Playing a video game and owning a football club is very different but with Race to Division One it was a journey it was hard but in the end, I did it.
“With this club I want to do the unthinkable, I want to take Dagenham and Redbridge to the Premier League. It’s going to take time but realistic stages, I think getting out of this league and entering the National League.
“We need to improve the team, I have improvements to take it to another level. I know to some of you it might be scary, me being one of the owners, but I’m reachable. You can tweet me and I will see it. You can let your frustrations out or celebrate with me.
“I’m a fighter. I’ve broken my nose, broken my hand, broken my thumb, I’ve been in tough fights but with the Daggers, I’m going to keep fighting so that we can succeed. I’m just ready to get started.”