We're ready for promotion - Burman

Monday 25th May 2009

DARTFORD boss Tony Burman says signing players like Allan Tait signals his intent to clinch promotion out of the Ryman Premier League next season, writes Stephen McCartney.

Striker Tait, 27, has dropped two divisions to sign from Blue Square Premier side Eastbourne Borough - and Burman insists he will get the best out of the former Folkestone Invicta, Crawley Town and Canvey Island striker.

Tait was top scorer at Crawley Town during the 2004-05 season with 12 goals from 39 appearances. The former Tottenham Hotspur junior scored only two goals for Eastbourne Borough during 32 appearances last season, although he has netted 28 goals in 101 appearances for the east Sussex club in total.

But Burman told www.kentishfootball.co.uk this morning that the striker will play a key role in helping the Kent club clinch promotion next season.

“Obviously he’s been playing in the Conference league and we enquired about him before the transfer deadline back in March, but unfortunately Eastbourne has a few injuries themselves," he said.

“I’ve had a couple of meetings with Allan and we’ve ironed out a deal and he came back to me and said he wanted to have a go with us, which we’re delighted about.

“He hasn’t had the best of goalscoring times just lately but he’s a forward whose going to bring experience of Conference level to our team, which can only be good for the squad.

“I’ve had a couple of meetings with him and he really thinks our setup is fantastic. He’s come out of the Conference league but he wanted to join a club whose looking to go forward.

“I’m absolutely delighted with his attitude towards dropping a couple of divisions but he wants to get back to enjoying himself and we’re looking to do that.

“This year we’ve moved forward, we’ve spoken to a guy from Conference standard and it’s another move in the right direction for us.”

With Dover Athletic and Staines Town now out of the Ryman League set-up following their promotions last season, Dartford will be clear favourites to go on and join them in Blue Square South at the end of next season.

“We’ve had a year in the Ryman Premier, we know more about it next year,” said Burman.

“We’re going to improve and we want to take the club forward. I felt we’ve signed a number of players from last season’s squad who, again, are a little bit more experienced of the Ryman Premier and I’m looking to bring in players like Elliott Bradbrook (from Maidstone United), who was an outstanding player in the (division) ast year.

“We’ve now brought in Allan Tait and we’re talking to a couple of players in Conference South who might be joining us within the next couple of weeks.”

One player not expected back at Princes Park is stylish midfielder Eddie McClements, who missed the whole of last season through work commitments.

“His work commitments took him out of the country at weekends,” explained Burman. “Maybe on a Friday he’d get a phone call so he had to leave the country.

“I phoned him on a number of occasions last year to see if he could help us out, but it wasn’t to be.

“I’ve not heard from Eddie for quite a while now, he’s position is the same regarding his work commitments.

“But we’ve got to move on now. Eddie was great for us but he’s missed a season of football and we’ve got to think ahead and at the moment Eddie is not someone we’re looking at to bring back because of his work commitments, but whenever he wants to pop back he’s more than welcome.”

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