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Rent is a burden for Dartford, says boss Sampson

TOMMY SAMPSON, manager of Dr Martens League Eastern Division side Dartford, has called upon local businesses to help the club with it's rent for the next two season's, writes Stephen McCartney.

The Darts' currently groundshare Nationwide Conference neighbours, Gravesend & Northfleet, and Sampson, whose side beat Burnham 2-1 at Stonebridge Road on the final day of the season on Saturday, admitted it's a burden to the club's finances playing there.

Sampson, said: "Our rent here at Gravesend & Northfleet is a tremendous burden on us and it would be great if we could find eight or nine local businesses, local business entrepreneurs or wealthy supporters to help us with the rent."

The future is looking very bright for Dartford as they plan to move into their own new stadium in the town in  two years time, but for the time being, finances will be very tight

Sampson added: "I don't want any help with finances for players because I don't think that's right.  If we could find people to contribute to the rent, as it is a huge amount of money for Dartford Football Club to pay to play football.

"I am not begging for money but if there were people out there you could pay it, it could help us get through the next two years.

"It's not a plea for money, all I am saying it would be great if people could throw something towards it and maybe ease the burden on my board - and my board of directors here are long suffering people.

"However, my board work very hard locally - you look at the Golf Day I've got coming up - I've got lots of local businesses and local people and that will make a few quid, not a lot of money though.

" I would say the biggest burden this football club have got at the moment is the rent we pay here.  That's not knocking Gravesend & Northfleet, as they are entitled to ask what they want to ask, but the rent is a burden and I would like to find businesses to come in and help us.

"However, Gravesend & Northfleet have been great letting us have this football ground - it's a lovely football ground and I get on well with them."

Dartford have relied on many youngsters in their Dr Martens League Eastern Division campaign this season, and it's a credit to all their players, management and coaching staff that the Darts' have finished well above the drop zone.

Sampson praised his youth team manager for producing the stars for the future.

He added: "I must say Steve Sales, my youth team manager of two and a half years, has been in the forefront, producing young lads and getting them to play on a Sunday morning.  I watch their games every Sunday, and Steve and Danny Sloman have been tremendous and have supplied us with a stream of good young players."

Sampson revealed five players from this season's squad have given their word that they will be at the club next season.

Tommy Osborne, Tostao Kwashi, Ted Ansell, Paul Sykes and goalkeeper Jimmy Simpson have all given the manager their word that they will stay with the club for next season, and Sampson will be looking, if tight finances allow him to, to add a couple more Southern League standard players to his squad.

He revealed: "All five have come to me and said they will be back next year.

"They won't be on contract - we might have one or two of the younger players on small contracts but we cannot afford people on contract here.  For the next two years, until we have own own stadium, we have got to look after our finances even more than ever.  I have got to put players on trust.

"I am looking to sign two or three more players as I'd like eight genuine Southern League players here with the rest made up of youngsters making their way.

"If we can make it eight or nine Southern League players, I am hoping we can be better next season, but I am not rolling out the same things, this club has got to produce it's own players and I think we are starting to do that."

"This club should be once again, in two years time, a big club again, that's what I am looking for."