Dartford turn to former players Adam Flanagan and Jamie Coyle to replace the legendary Tony Burman at Princes Park

DARTFORD have appointed former players Adam Flanagan and Jamie Coyle as their new management team replacing the legendary Tony Burman, who stepped down last week.

“We are delighted to announce that after an intense few days of meetings and discussions with a large number of applicants and prospective candidates, we have appointed Adam Flanagan and Jamie Coyle as our new management team with immediate effect,” said co-chairman Steve Irving.


BACK AT DARTFORD:
Jamie Coyle and Adam Flanagan
will have very big shoes to fill
after being appointed Dartford's
new management team today.
Photo: Dartford FC

“As many of you will know Adam (who was captain) and Jamie were members of our successful sides between 2007-2010 winning the Isthmian League championships of Division One North and the Premier Division, playing in 135 and 140 games respectively.”

After retiring from playing, Flanagan went on to manage Brentwood Town, guiding them to promotion from the Isthmian League Division One North to the Premier Division.  He then went on to manage Concord Rangers in the National League South for three years, winning the Essex Senior Cup.

Coyle has seen success as an assistant manager at Leatherhead with promotion from the Isthmian League Division One South to the Premier Division, as Player-coach winning promotion with Maidstone United from the Isthmian League Premier Division to the National League South and then via the play-offs in to the National League.

Coyle spent one season in charge of Welling United, guiding them to a tenth-place finish in the Vanarama National League South as player-manager during the season just ended.

Mr Irving added: “We would like to welcome both Adam and Jamie back to the club and wish them all the very best for the future here at Dartford FC.”

The pair have massive shoes to fill as they replace Burman, who stepped down as Dartford last Thursday.

Burman, 59, has been in charge of Dartford for the last 14 years, plus his previous spells between 1993-1996 and as caretaker in 2001.

Burman guided the club to the Isthmian League Division One North and Premier Division titles plus won the Conference South Promotion and winning two Kent Senior Cup Finals during the club’s most successful period.

He led the Darts to runners-up to Havant & Waterlooville in the Vanarama National League South in the season just ended, but their promotion dream was ended on the final day of the season.

Burman’s side lost 1-0 at home to Braintree Town in the Play-Off Semi-Final in his last game in charge seven days ago.

The Iron beat Hampton & Richmond Borough 4-3 on penalties to win the Promotion Final today (after a 1-1 draw after extra time) to return to the top-flight after suffering relegation last April.

Flanagan paid tribute to Burman’s contribution to Dartford when he Tweeted: “When I was close to 30 he gave an overweight defender an opportunity to be a part of a special club.  Unknown we were at the start of what would be an incredible time for the club.

“They’re aren’t many like Tony Burman around anymore and I am gutted it couldn’t end on a high for him.

“Always has time for us old players when we came back to the club as if we had never been away. A great man.”

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