THE BIG KICK OFF: My aim is promotion, says Burman - EXCLUSIVE

Wednesday 15th August 2007

Despite the summer discussing the rights and wrongs of their controversial switch from South to North, Dartford boss Tony Burman insists now is the time to let their football do the talking, writes Stephen McCartney.

Maldon Town are the visitors to Princes Park in their opening Ryman League Division One North game of the season on Saturday.

The Darts have played in three different divisions during the past three years, but Burman admitted the club’s in a great position to win promotion to the Ryman Premier League.

But star winger, Ryan Hayes is expected to be on the sidelines for upto ten weeks with a broken metatarsal - a massive blow for the Darts.

“You have pre-season games and you look at players’ fitness and you hope you don’t pick up any injuries,” Burman said EXCLUSIVELY to www.kentishfootball.co.uk.

“But unfortunately we have picked up some injuries and you have to get on with things the best way possible.

“One of our injuries, Ryan Hayes’ is more serious and he’s going to be out for six to ten weeks, I would think.

“Ryan’s been exceptional in pre-season and it’s a massive blow to us before we’ve kicked the ball. But we have to get on with it and see what we can do.”

Burman is also sweating on the fitness of defender, John Guest (hamstring) and midfield playmaker, Eddie McClements (ankle) for their opening day clash against Maldon Town.

“It’s important to get off to a good start, yes,” said Burman. “We’re playing against a good side who made the play-off’s last year.

“We’ve watched them in pre-season but I’m not going to take too much from that.

“They’re going to come to Princes Park and are going to like it and come to win.

“We’re expecting all the teams to come here and expect to win, and we have to be mentally strong this year and be up for the same battle as our opponents.”

Burman believes his side can cope with the huge expectations that have been placed on them, especially as they won’t be playing one single Kent derby in the league this term.

“The expectation has increased this year,” he admitted. “We, for the first time for a long, long time, in 15 years, things are in place and we can say realistically our aim is promotion.

“We have got a good chance and a realistic chance of doing that, if we approach things in the right manner during the season.”

Burman has issued a rallying cry to the people of Dartford - and beyond - to fill Princes Park to the rafters.

“I would like as many (fans) as we can,” he said. “Again, we’re going into an unknown, there’s situations we don’t know.

“It was great last year when we was getting the 1200-1300’s and this year we hope to do the same.

“The situation is still the same, we have to win the game. It will be disappointing if we don’t go to 1200, but having said that, if we get 700 that’s what we were expecting when we went into Princes Park.

“If we’re successful we’ll have the crowds, there’s no doubt about that.

“It’s important that we’re at the right end of the table and achieve something at the club and we want to achieve promotion this year, whatever way it comes.”

Burman also revealed that “there will be a new face, if not two new faces in the squad on Saturday - from a higher level.”

Visit Dartford’s websites: www.dartfordfc.co.uk & www.dartfordfootballclub.co.uk

Dartford v Maldon Town
Ryman League Division One North
Saturday 18^th August 2007
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Princes Park Stadium, Grassbanks, Darenth Road, Dartford, Kent DA1 1RT

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