Kentish Football 
Burman: I don't want mercanaries at Dartford - EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW
The 20-year-old was selected as a member of a star-studded Southern League Division One East team, picked by players and managers that plied their trade in that division last season.
The blonde defender, who missed just one game last season, helped Burman’s side finish in seventh place in the table, missing out on a place in the end of season play-off’s by just one point.
He formed a formidable partnership at the heart of the Darts defence with the experienced Anthony Henry.
Darts fans will be pleased to hear that Henry “will be signing an extension to the original contract he was on” – joining Avery, Ryan Hayes, Dave Martin and Brendon Cass on contacts next season.
“I’m very pleased, he’s done well, Richard,” Burman said in an EXCLUSIVE interview with www.kentishfootball.co.uk tonight.
“To be in the side just missing one game and the year before he got 40-50 games under his belt - I’m delighted for him.
”He’s young and the good thing is he wants to learn.”
Burman had originally given the player a chance when he managed local side Phoenix Sports in the Kent Youth League.
“I had him for three years and I passed him onto Dartford and I’ve been monitoring him ever since,” said a proud Burman.
With the squad returning to pre-season training on 6th July, Burman admitted he’s keeping faith with last season’s squad and will not be making too many “wholesale” changes.
“My main concern was to keep the present squad in tact,” he said. “We started on an adventure a year ago, putting a squad together.
“We have a young squad and I don’t see why I should throw all the good work away that we’ve put in during one season.
“I’m hoping the players have learnt from their experiences and they can continue to progress to become a better team and better players.
“I’m happy with the squad – there’s not going to be wholesale changes.”
Dartford have relied on blooding youngsters into their first team over the years giving Burman a “large squad”, but the manager will be looking for more experience before the league season kick’s off on 19th August.
“We have a large squad but it’s a squad of inexperienced players,” he admitted.
“I will be adding at least three or four players with experience of playing at a higher level or at the same level we’re at the moment.”
Burman explained he can’t bring in players who have played in the Nationwide Conference South or above.
But with their impressive new Princes Park Stadium rising, Burman has a carrot to dangle in front of potential new signings.
He said: “I’m delighted that I’ve agreed (terms) with last year’s squad and I agreed (with all the players) before the end of May.
“I have taken players who I’m interested in signing up to the new ground and obviously they’re impressed.
“But even at this stage some players do not want to play at the level that we are in at the moment.”
But Burman warned he won’t be signing players who want to receive a fat brown envelope at the end of each week.
He said: “What I am looking at are players who want to play for the club and are hungry to do well.
“I want to bring in a couple of much more experienced players which could well happen in the next few weeks.”
With the club switching into the Ryman League (Division One South) next season, Burman weighed up the options.
With seven Kent sides in the division next season, Burman feels Kent sides will be at a “disadvantage” next season - playing too many local derbies.
But our clubs will benefit from increased crowds, which results in lucrative days.
“The more I look at the league the more difficult the games are going to be,” said Burman.
“With so many different teams to play and the quality of some of those teams, if there was half a level we would be playing at level four and a half.
“There’s a lot of local derbies, which in my opinion it gives us an advantage to teams who are further away from us distance wise.
“Our opponents in the league will relish any of the Kent sides playing in local derbies,” he warned.
“It’s an advantage to them but a disadvantage to the Kent sides.
“But financially and support wise hopefully it will be bringing back memories of the old Southern League – and rivalries.”
The Darts will be relishing lucrative derby days against Ashford Town, Chatham Town, Cray Wanderers, Dover Athletic, Maidstone United and Sittingbourne next season.
And last season two of the three sides that clinched promotion out of this division came from the Garden of England.
Champions Ramsgate and Sussex side Horsham were joined in the Ryman Premier League by Tonbridge Angels – who defeated Dover Athletic - in the play-off final.To assist in the running costs of www.kentishfootball.co.uk, which is now in it's fourth year, please click on “Contact us”.
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