Burman acts to bring a couple "quality" players to Dartford - EXCLUSIVE

Wednesday 20th September 2006

Dartford manager Tony Burman promises to add a couple of “quality” players to his squad after seeing his side surrender a two-goal lead at Dulwich Hamlet last night, writes Stephen McCartney.

Goals from Eddie McClements and Dave Martin (penalty), their first goals of the season, gave the Darts a two goal lead inside 24 minutes on an excellent playing surface at Champion Hill.

But the south Londoners turned the game on its head scoring twice in the last six minutes of the first half through two fine goals from impressive pair Luke Cornwall and Phil Williams.

And it was former Erith & Belvedere striker Chris Dickson, netting his seventh goal of the season, who gave the hosts all three points, scoring the winner with just three minutes on the clock.

But following a board meeting on Monday night, Burman, whose side dropped two places to fifth in the Ryman League Division One South table following their second defeat from their first six games, has been given money to bring “quality” players to the club.

“Well, I have to say I am looking to bring people in,” Burman said EXCLUSIVELY to www.kentishfootball.co.uk.

“I’m not going to deny the fact that I want to add to the squad and I would like to think that I can do that within the next week or so.

“We had a board meeting Monday night and we’ve had a good chat, a really positive chat on how things are going at Princes Park and what we should be doing on the field and I hope I can add to the squad and strengthen it.”

Burman revealed he doesn’t have to release any players to bring new ones to the club.

“First of all I don’t have to lose anybody,” he said. “If someone chooses to go because they might not be in the side that their progrative.

“I’m not going to be releasing people at this stage to bring people in, but I do feel that I want to bring a couple of players in, preferably with the experience of this league and I am looking at higher leagues.

“We’ve done ok, but now it has to be better than ok, so let’s try and move forward.

“Our targets have to go a little bit higher now, thinking a little bit higher with the things that are going on this year and I hope we can do that, which means we have to improve the squad with quality players.”

Dartford’s next game is against local rivals Maidstone United and takes place next Monday at Thurrock’s Ship Lane ground.

The Stones climbed above the Darts into third place in the table as a Simon Austin goal helped them collect a point at Burgess Hill Town (the game was played at Worthing's Woodside Road due to floodlight issues) last night. Midfielder Nick Barnes, was however, sent off late in the game.