I'm just looking for improvement, says Tonbridge Angels boss Steve McKimm

DULWICH HAMLET manager Gavin Rose says his side are once again gunning for promotion this season.

The Hamlet finished in fourth-place in the Ryman Premier League last season and were defeated 2-1 in a high quality game at Margate in the play-off semi-finals in May.

Terry Brown’s side went on to beat Hendon 1-0 to join league champions Maidstone United in the Vanarama National League South this season, but Rose, who signed a new two-year contract during the summer, is keen to join them.

Dulwich Hamlet welcome Canvey Island to Champion Hill on the opening day of the season on Saturday and Rose said: “We are all looking forward to another tough season and hope we can push the club to promotion, which would be a great achievement.

“There is growing optimism amongst our supporters that we are growing as a club and that gives us great enthusiasm to try and continue the development of our project at the club this season.”

TONBRIDGE ANGELS boss Steve McKimm, meanwhile, hopes for a better start to the season.

The Angels suffered a bitterly disappointing campaign in McKimm’s first season in charge, finishing fifth-from-bottom in the Ryman Premier League table.

McKimm takes his side to Enfield Town on Saturday, before playing host to Grays Athletic on Tuesday 11 August, followed by another home game, this time against newly-promoted Needham Market on 15 August.

McKimm said: “We have three tough games to start. I’m looking forward to the season ahead with the new squad.

“A top ten finish would be great but considering where we finished last season.

“I just don’t want the club to go through a frantic last month of the season – so I’m just looking for improvement.”

VCD ATHLETIC’S home game against Farnborough on Saturday has been postponed.

A Farnborough statement said: “After discussion with the Ryman League it has been agreed that both Saturday’s away match against VCD Athletic and Monday’s home match against Harrow Borough has been postponed whilst the appeal to The FA is undertaken.”

An earlier statement said: “The club can confirm that it has appealed to The FA regarding the imposition of a Ryman League bond.

“The appeal is expected to be heard urgently and we will not comment further until that appeal is decided.”

The Hampshire outfit insist that “the club is ready to fulfil all its fixtures.”

Vickers’ manager Keith McMahon begins the search to play a friendly match instead, ahead of their trip to newly-promoted side Burgess Hill Town next Wednesday 12 August, which will be his first league game in charge of the Crayford-based club.