Dartford are ready to go full-time if they win promotion back to the National League.

Co-chairman Steve Irving believes they would have to make the switch in order to compete one level up.

It would be a major operation but the club’s board have plans in place.

Mr Irving said: “We’d certainly be ready for the new season.

“We’ve already talked to Adam Flanagan and Jamie Coyle and they agree it would have to be a full-time situation. I think both of them would be committed to doing that.

“It’s a hugely difficult league – we know that from the three years we played in it.

“In the years since we were relegated, it’s probably got tougher so we know we’ve got a lot to do to transition into the national division, as and when that comes.

“We are looking at all the options regarding full-time professionalism so we can try to be prepared for the day when we get promoted back and go full-time.

“To survive in that division, it’s a requirement to be a full-time club so if we were to go back up as a part-time club, we may get the same results as before.

“We’ve continued to seek new sources of income and being smarter in the way we manage certain things so we are ready to make that transition.

“It would be a much younger side. You’ve got to consider the finances, which would mean a hugely increased budget and if the money’s not there, we can’t spend it.

“We’d have to look at younger pros, players coming out of Football League development squads. We’ll see how it goes.”

Dartford, ninth in National League South, are away to second-placed Woking on Tuesday.