Burman waits for offers for in-form striker McDonald

Witham based striker, Cody McDonald, 22, took his goalscoring tally to 15 goals in only 14 starts, with a hat-trick in Dartford’s 3-2 win at Canvey Island yesterday.

The pacy striker left his home-town club at the end of last season and moved to fellow Essex side Maldon Town for a short spell, before arriving at Princes Park in October, making his debut as a substitute in Dartford’s win over Harlow Town in the FA Trophy.

McDonald made an immediate impact and the Kent club swiftly snapped him up on a contract until the end of this season, with an option for another year, meaning the player will not be able to walk away at the end of this season.



INTEREST:  Dartford striker Cody McDonald, 22, is creating plenty of interest from Football League clubs, having scored 15 goals in just 14 starts for the Kent club.
Photograph courtesy of Dave Adkins - www.thedarts.eu

Former Dartford favourite Peter Taylor, who takes his table-topping Wycombe Wanderers side to Gillingham today, watched McDonald net a hat-trick at Park Lane yesterday - although McDonald also picked up two yellow cards and will therefore miss Dartford’s trip to Hastings United on 10^th January.

Dartford secretary, Peter Martin, also confirmed to www.kentishfootball.co.uk this afternoon that Charlton Athletic, Crystal Palace, Huddersfield Town, Millwall, Hartlepool United, Reading and Peterborough United, as well as Wycombe Wanderers, are all keeping tabs on McDonald.

Peterborough United’s director of football Barry Fry, who snapped up Ebbsfleet United’s teenage striker Kwasi Appiah earlier in the season, actually took time out to watch McDonald in action against Hendon earlier in the month.

And Hartlepool United’s scout - who is based here in Kent at Sittingbourne - watched McDonald against Dover Athletic and Carshalton Athletic.

It is not the only time that Dartford have created this attention. The same thing happened with pacy winger Dave Martin two years ago.

The former Thamesmead Town and Slade Green winger was snapped up by Championship club Crystal Palace in January 2006 for a fee of £25,000.

Thirteen months later, Millwall boss Kenny Jackett splashed out an initial fee of £50,000 to bring Martin across south London to the New Den.

Despite the interest, Dartford boss Tony Burman, speaking to BBC Radio Kent yesterday, confirmed no club has yet put an offer on the table for the in-form striker.

“There’s been a lot of interest from people - but no offers as such,” he said.

“He’s only been with us for three months, he’s done well. He’s not the finished article by a long way.

“Anyone whose got a little bit of pace, the clubs, the scouts come to watch them.

“I want to look after him and improve him as much as I can and I hope he’s at Dartford Football Club.”

Burman paid tribute to McDonald’s strike partner Rob Haworth, who plays his part as the big target man.

“Rob’s a big lad and you know what you’re going to get,” said Burman. “Every single game he works his socks off and I think the last couple of season’s he’s had the top goalscorer as his partner.

“He hasn’t known Cody for that long and they’ve struck up that partnership.”

Burman has kept faith with McDonald and Haworth, leaving last season’s leading goalscorer, Brendon Cass, frustrated on the substitutes bench.

“Don’t forget about Brendon Cass,” said Burman. “He’s been brilliant for Dartford Football Club and he’s been there waiting in the wings as the third striker.

“They’ve all got the right attitude and want to do well and at the moment Cody’s putting the goals in and feeding off Rob.”

Despite all the national media attention, Burman will do his very best to keep McDonald’s feet well and truly on the ground.

“He can go to League football, if you go back to the Dave Martin scenario, he could do that,” said Burman.

“I just hope he listens to the right people. We want to improve him and if the lad gets a chance of playing in the League we don’t want to hold him back.

“I hope things are done in the right manner. I hope he listens to people like myself and he’s got a chance of going to a higher level.”

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

Photograph courtesy of Dave Adkins - www.thedarts.eu

Visit BBC Radio Kent’s website: www.bbc.co.uk/kent