Olson leaves Dartford for "regular first team football"

After their lucrative run in the FA Trophy last season, Dartford welcome Ilford in the preliminary round tomorrow.

Wins over Margate and Dover Athletic (after a replay) earned the Darts another lucrative tie, before going out to AFC Wimbledon after a replay at Kingsmeadow.

Dartford boss Tony Burman revealed he has just missed out on a transfer target, has some injury headaches and has released Tommy Olson, whose searching for regular first team football.

He told www.dartfordfootballclub.co.uk  : “I have spoken to another player this week, who is playing at a higher level than us, but I could not tempt him to join at the present time.

“The funny thing was I asked him to meet me at Princes Park and he refused saying he had been told Princes Park was fantastic and he did not want it to influence his decision by meeting me there.”

Striker Brendon Cass, meanwhile, is fit to play against the Essex side but defender John Farley is still a week away from fitness.

Teddy Ansell is going to have an operation on his foot in two weeks time and will be out for at lest a month.

Craig Maguire is also suffering with an injury, sustained in a reserve (U21) game against Whitstable Town, and his leg will be in a brace for the month.

And young prospect Tommy Youle has been told he may need a cartilage operation once he’s had a scan.

But Burman explained his reasons behind Tommy Olson’s departure.

“Tommy wanted first team football on a regular basis, which I had to accept,” he said.

“I would like to say that while I have been in charge of team affairs Tommy’s attitude has been excellent and he has always given me 100% whenever he has had a chance in the first team and I cannot thank him enough.”

Visit Dartford's two websites:   www.dartford-fc.co.uk & www.dartfordfootballclub.co.uk