Dartford chairman Dave Skinner says the club is focused on securing a play-off spot when they return for their second season in Blue Square Bet South.

Darts made a slow start to life at a higher level after their procession to the Ryman League Premier Division title the previous season, flirting with the relegation places midway through the season.

However, a burst of form from Tony Burman’s side during the second-half of the campaign saw the Darts secure a top-10 finish, above long-term leaders Bromley, whom they also beat in the Kent Senior Cup final.

Mr Skinner said: "Tony has done his business this summer and now we are all looking forward to the start of a new season.

"The players and management learnt a lot from last season. We took time to adjust to playing at the higher level. It is different watching a level of football from being involved in it week-in, week-out. But the second half of the season showed that we had begun to get to grips with the division."

He added: "We want to improve every year. Last year we finished 10th, so next season progress for us would be finishing in the top six and a play-off place."

As the Darts approach the fifth anniversary of their return to the borough following more than a decade in exile to play at their £7m Princes Park home, Mr Skinner added: "We are still on the 10-year plan we had when we moved into Princes Park.

"We said then we wanted to get into the Conference Premier and that remains our aim. With the finances involved in playing at that level, it takes years to get established in the division and that still has to be our aim."