3rdfeb05

Kwashi given Sunday deadline to decide his future

TONY BURMAN - the director turned manager of Dartford  - has announced the club will be appointing a new manager in the summer to lead the club into their new stadium next year, writes Stephen McCartney.

The 46-year-old, lives locally in Crayford, and owns a courier company which is proud to sponsor the club, and he takes charge of his second game of his third spell in Saturday's crunch game against local rivals Erith & Belvedere at Park View Road. 

Burman started his career as an apprentice with Queen's Park Rangers before signing professional forms with Charlton Athletic at the age of seventeen.  He spent a couple of years with the Addicks before Graham Carr brought him to Dartford to start his first ten-year love affair with the club.

Current Dagenham & Redbridge boss John Still took the striker to Leytonstone & Ilford before spells with Bromley and Saturday's opponents, Erith & Belvedere followed.  Bob Makin then enticed him back to Dartford to play Southern Premier League football.

He has only managed one club. He first took charge of the Darts when the club reformed and played Kent League football and his second spell came when he took over on a caretaker basis when Gary Julians left the club but his third spell is his biggest challenge so far.

First of all he has to persuade striker Tostao Kwashi to turn down a move to Conference South neighbours Welling United and then keep the Darts in the Southern League.

Burman explained the current situation with the Zimbabwean International striker, who represented his country on nine occasions during the 1999-00 season.  After joining Gravesend & Northfleet at the beginning of the 2002-03 season, having spent the previous season with Fisher Athletic he moved to Dartford during the 2003-04 season following a very brief stop off at Margate.

Before arriving in the UK the wide striker played for Swedish club Mjallby, whom he joined from Zimbabwean side Caps United

Burman revealed: "Welling United have been allowed to speak to him and at this moment in time, I can't give an answer.

"They can speak to him from today - but I am 99% sure he will be with us on Saturday.

"Tostao has told me he will be with us on Saturday.

"Welling hold the cards as they can approach him for the next fourteen days.  However, I want an answer by Sunday either way.

"I think Tostao will be with us Saturday.  We have to leave it to Welling to talk - as he isn't on a contract there is nothing we can do about it."

The Darts make the short trip to Park View Road to face Erith & Belvedere - who are managed by former Darts heroes Steve Robinson and Grant Spelling - in a game both North Kent clubs cannot afford to lose.

Welling, on the other hand, make the long trip to Weymouth.

Burman said: "I'd like it to be a top of the table clash.  Both clubs are obviously disappointed in their league positions, netherless it's a relegation clash.

"With our result last week (beating Wivenhoe Town 2-1) I feel it has helped the team's confidence and obviously with Erith losing their game (2-1 at Barton Rovers) I feel the onus is actually on Erith & Belvedere to get the three points - they've got to win the game.

"For me it's another game we can gain one or three points and if it doesn't happen for us this weekend, we'll endeavor to get one or three points next Saturday at home to Berkhamsted Town, which is another important game again."

Burman feels the club's fans hold the key as they bid to collect three points against their relegation and local rivals.

"The fans were excellent last Saturday and I've asked them to get behind the team regardless to what's happening on the pitch," he said.

"It's an important time for the club due to the position we are in.  We need everyone pulling their weight 100% from the fans, the players, and the staff to help get us through this tricky time."

Burman admitted he is not in for the long haul inside the dug-out but will remain at the club at boardroom level as a director of the club.

"I've offered my services to the club until they are ready to appoint a new manager," he revealed.

"Ideally I will be manager until the end of the season - we've had over six applications for the managers job.

"We're giving the new manager the whole of the summer to build a team - the next manager will be very important because he will take the team to our new ground."

After being appointed as a director in November, Burman didn't envisage becoming first team manager some two months later following the resignation of Tommy Sampson nearly two weeks ago.

"I joined the club in November as a director having been asked on many occasions to become a director of Dartford Football Club.

"Because of my family and work commitments I didn't feel I could give it 100% before but this time they asked and I've said yes.

"There will definitely be a new manager in charge ready for the new season, but I'll be staying as a director."

Burman will once again be without Craig Dennis (ankle ligaments) and Ted Ansell (knee ligaments) for the short trip to Welling.  However,  Eddie McClements will be added to the squad.

With three training sessions under his belt, Burman has now had a chance to tell the players what is expected off them.

He said: "The main thing is to try to build the players confidence and the main thing I've asked them to do is to go out and enjoy themselves and express the way they play.

"The first game we realised they wanted to impress as it was a new start and the slate was wiped clean.

"I've asked them to listen to what I've got to say and last week with their enthusiasm and commitment they seemed to take it in.

"And in the three sessions we've now had that's what we've been trying to preach them.

With former Darts Steve Robinson and Grant Spelling in charge of the Deres, Burman added: "Whatever happens on Saturday myself, Steve and Grant will be having a quiet drink after the game - whatever the result."

Southern League Division One East table (bottom seven)

*3 points deducted

Erith & Belvedere v Dartford
Saturday 5th February 2005
Southern League Division One East
Kick Off 3:00pm
at Park View Road, Welling