Dartford manager Alan Dowson says promotion from National League South is still the target

Manager Alan Dowson has dismissed rumours Dartford will be happy not to gain promotion this season.

The Darts boss has put the record straight after suggestions that the club would be happy to rebuild this campaign.

“There’s rumours going around that we don’t want to go up this year, that’s a load of old cobblers as I’m desperate to go up,” said Dowson.

“The board couldn’t be any more supportive to me. People thought I was nuts taking the job anyway because when you finish fourth you’ve got to (come in and) do better.

“We’ll get promotion in the next few years, I believe. I’m getting the club together as one on and off the pitch.

“I don’t know where it’s coming from but people are coming to me and asking do the club want to get promotion? Of course, we do!

“I’ve got Steve Irving, the chairman, who has been brilliant with me, I’ve had a half-hour chat with Tony Burman on Monday, brilliant. I don’t have any pressure or anyone in the club telling me what to do, I wouldn’t have taken the job otherwise.

“Yes, the money has gone up at other clubs and that’s fine but we’ll be competing at the top end of the table once I get my squad sorted.

“It’s a great club and I love my job, I’m trying to get everyone together. All the clubs I’ve been to I’ve won promotion, so I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t think I could do it again - I’m here to get promotion.”

Dowson was keen that there is a reasoned reaction to results this early in the season.

Successive wins have been followed by successive defeats as the Darts find their way under new management.

“We’re 10th in the league and a point off the fourth, if you win back-to-back games at the weekend you’re fine so we’ve just to get on with it.

“I thought we were very unlucky against Havant