It will be a tough battle against Dartford, says Welling United boss Jamie Day

WELLING UNITED manager Jamie Day says he is searching for a couple of new players during the January transfer window.

The Wings are in fourteenth-place in the Skrill Premier with 34 points from 25 games - ten points clear of the relegation zone.

Welling United welcome their Kent rivals Dartford to Park View Road on Friday night after the original game was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch on New Year’s Day.

Dartford, who finished as the highest ranked part-time club in the division last season in eighth-place, but Tony Burman’s side have struggled in their second season back at that level and arrive at Park View Road in the bottom two with 18 points (five league wins) from 26 games.

Welling United came back from Princes Park with a 2-1 win on Boxing Day.

The Darts took a first half lead through Lee Burns, but The Wings claimed the local bragging rights after Ross Lafayette and Kurtis Guthrie scored in the final sixteen minutes to win the game.

Day, whose side suffered a 3-1 defeat in their last game, away to Aldershot Town on 28 December, cannot wait to get back into action against his former club.

“We’ve managed to carry on training, we train on Astro so it’s not been too much of a problem,” said Day.

“Obviously we’d like to get a few games under our belts obviously and kick on.

“We’re disappointed that we haven’t had the games because of the weather so hopefully we can kick on and we’re looking forward to it.

“Hopefully we can get some wins on the board and push up the table a little bit.”

Day is looking forward to the massive game against his former club.

He said: “They’re good games, two teams that want to get three points. It’s a local derby so it’s a game we’re looking forward to and hopefully we can get the right result.

“Dartford need some wins to try to get out of the situation they’re in so as usual it will be a tough battle.

“Tony’s team will keep going for 90 minutes and keep putting in a shift so we need to make sure we start the game well and hopefully get on the front foot and get three points.

“I think it will depend on the sort of start we make tomorrow. Hopefully it will be a good one and we can stamp our authority on the game.”

Day is confident the club can attract their largest crowd of the season against their local rivals on Friday night.

“We’re disappointed it was called off on New Year’s, one because of the gate and we wanted to play – but I just felt we’d rather play on a Friday than a Tuesday.

“I think people will hopefully see Friday as a weekend and want to get out and watch some football so hopefully it will be a good turnout and we get a good game as well.”

Reflecting on their Boxing Day win over the Darts, Day said: “I think for me it’s just another game where we had to get points from.

“First half I thought Dartford were better than us and I thought second half we got on top of it and deserved to get the three points.

“We’ve got to take that little advantage into tomorrow night’s game but we know it’s going to be tough and another game we’ve got to try to win.

Dartford, who lost Tom Champion and Tom Bonner to Conference Premier side Cambridge United in the summer, have signed two U’s players on a month’s loan today.

Burman has brought in former Welling United striker Andy Pugh, 24, and central defender Rory McAuley, 24, from their league rivals and are expected to feature on Friday.

When asked about his progress in the transfer window, the Welling boss replied: “I think we’d like to strengthen, it’s just a case of seeing what we’ve got and who’s available for the sort of money that we pay.

“We’ve spoken to a few players but we’ve been turned down because of wages, which is understandable.

“We’re on the look-out and we’re still in contact with a couple of players who hopefully can bring some quality to the team and squad.”

Day has had to adjust to the transfer restrictions of being a Conference Premier club, such as the January transfer window – something that you don’t have in Conference South or lower.

“I think for us really I don’t think it pays too big a part because we don’t generally have a lot of money to spend throughout the course of the season,” said Day.

“Once I spend the budget at the start of the season – unless we sell someone or someone goes then maybe it’s (the money) available then.

“For us I don’t think it makes too much of a difference.  The one thing that I’ve learn is you think you’ve got some deals done and they fall apart at the last minute and someone comes in and offers more money and you lose out.

“That’s going to be disappointing but we’ve got a good set of boys and just hopefully we can add another couple to that.”

Visit Welling United’s website: www.wellingunited.com

Welling United  v  Dartford
Skrill Premier
Friday 10^th January 2014
Kick Off 7:45pm
at Park View Road, Welling, Kent DA16 1SY