We don't want to see not getting automatic promotion as a failure, says Dartford boss Tony Burman

DARTFORD boss Tony Burman says he is already planning how to deal with the Blue Square Bet (Conference) South play-offs.


The Darts remain in second place in the table, with 83 points from 39 games and have given season long leaders Woking a run for their money, as the Kent side are seven points behind, but with only three games left to play it appears that the Darts may have to settle for the end of season play-off lottery.

They travel to Sutton United tomorrow.  Paul Doswell’s side clinched the Ryman Premier League title last season and have consolidated a place in the play-offs zone.

The Conference South play-off semi-finals are over two legs and as things stand at present, Dartford will travel to fifth-placed Chelmsford City for the first leg on Wednesday, 2 May, before playing the home leg at Princes Park on Sunday, 6 May.

Sutton United may face Welling United in the other two-legged semi-final.

The play-off final will be at the highest placed club seven days later and goalkeeping coach John Macrae revealed Burman may speak to Liam Daish, who guided Ebbsfleet United back into the Conference Premier at the first attempt, via three play-off games at the end of last season, for advice.

“We’re thinking about it now,” said Burman, following his side’s 2-1 win over relegation threatened Bromley at Hayes Lane last Monday.

“We want the players, or the club, or anyone, the supporters, if we don’t get promoted automatically, we don’t want to see that as a failure.

“We’ve done brilliantly to get into the play-offs.  We’re gearing up our preparations for that scenario.   We feel we want to finish as high as we can in these particular areas.”

Burman takes his side to fourth-placed Sutton United tomorrow, a side that suffered a humiliating 6-1 defeat at Princes Park just under a month ago.

Since that night, the Surrey club have remained unbeaten, picking up three draws and a win, which was over play-off chasing Dover Athletic, a 2-0 win at Crabble on Easter Monday.

Burman said: “Difficult game!  We only played them a couple of weeks’ ago. We put six past them and they’re going to want to do something against us at some stage. 

“I’ve got to look at what players’ we can play and bring people 90 minutes.”

The Dartford boss revealed how he will treat the Kent Senior Cup (Sponsored by Portablefloodlights.com) Final on Tuesday 24 April.

The Darts are the holders after thrashing Bromley 4-1 in last years’ final, which turned out to be Hayden Bird’s final game in charge of the Hayes Lane club.

Dartford will play Ryman League Division One South side Hythe Town, who are playing in their second final, while Dartford will be looking to pick up the silverware for an eleventh time in their history.

“We’re treating it exactly like we have before.  Players’ who haven’t played (the game before) will play.  Some players’ will have to play more than others,” revealed Burman.

“We’ve got a long trip on the last day of the season on Truro (leaving on Friday) and we’ll take nothing for granted.  We’ll give Hythe as much respect as we can, a lot of respect. They’ve done really, really well this season so I won’t be playing a load of kids’, but I’ll be playing players, who I feel will need 90 minutes.”

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

Sutton United  v  Dartford
Blue Square Bet South
Saturday 14^th April 2012
Kick Off 3:00pm
at Gander Green Lane, Sutton, Surrey SM1 2EY