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Dartford manager Tony Burman accepts that more of his players could leave Princes Park this summer

13:17, 02 May 2013

Tony Burman Picture: Matthew Walker
Tony Burman Picture: Matthew Walker

Dartford lost two of their key players this week and more could be set to leave Princes Park over the summer.

Tom Bonner and Tom Champion have accepted full-time offers from other clubs and Darts manager Tony Burman (pictured) admitted he was “resigned” to seeing some of his most prized assets walk away.

Members of the squad which performed so impressively in Dartford’s maiden Blue Square Bet Premier campaign have inevitably attracted the interest of professional clubs.

Burman, who had hoped to keep the core of his squad together, said: “Some players have done well enough to get offers,” he said. “I think four or five have been approached to go full-time.

“I’d like to keep it all together but my head knows it’s not going to happen. It’s a different ball-game this year. It’s not just finances, it’s people’s livelihoods.

“It’s going to be a learning curve. I want to keep them all together but it’s up to the players whether they accept the offers or not. The likelihood is that some will not.

“The guys we’re talking about, it’s not to do with money. They’ve been good players and they’ve grown in stature with us. There’s an opportunity for them to go full-time at established clubs and it’s too much for them to turn down.

“I am resigned to it. What will be, will be. We’ve given them all offers so we’ll see what happens in the next week or so.”

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