Q: If the league was to be stopped now, would you prefer to allow the top two to go up or do you think the play-offs should be played once normality is returned?
SI: I think because we are still in the early stages of the lockdown, it’s a diffcuilt one, the national league and the FA want to continue, if it was to continue, I think the points per game is the fairest way of doing it, all we know is that there will be no relegation this year so that saves the two sides at the bottom.
Q: Is it frustrating that the season may not continue?
SI: Yes of course it is, is for many clubs, we’ve had a fantastic run since Steve came in, we are top of the form table in the last 25 games, Steve has brought in a fantastic squad of players, if we weren’t to carry on, it will feel like a wasted season but everyone’s health and wellbeing comes first.
Q: How have the club been funding all the players coming and going this season? Been a lot of players used this season, so how have the club financially juggled this?
SI: We’ve juggled it because of good management, we’ve brought in some excellent non-football related contracts that have helped us, in situations like we’ve got now, it won’t hit us short term. Steve has the same budget from last year and it’s been good management from the him, the management and the directors to put us in the position we are in now.
Q: What would the club change if promotion happens to try and ensure we can establish ourselves in the league above.
SI: Yes, we are now wanting to go up and ready to go up, it’s going to be more difficult but there’s more income from sponsorship but the club has got itself into a position with the stadium and structure that we are now ready to go up and stay up when we get there.
Q: Would the club be ready for full-time if/when promotion happens?
SI: Yes, I think we feel we are, full time doesn’t necessarily mean 5 days a week, it can mean 3 days a week, 3 evenings a week. We are in conversation with Steve King about which is the best possible route, but we are ready if/when we get promoted.
Q: How are Dartford Financially during this current situation?
SI: The financial situation is better than it’s been for sometime, of course we’ve got some decisions make over the next few months but we are looking at the schemes that the government have brought out but everyone has been paid up until the end of this month.
Q: Have the league been in contact about the current situation?
SI: How it works is that a North and South have a league representative, it’s like pulling teeth getting anything out of them. Some club chairman’s want the season over but there are some clubs like us that have more incentives, but I would like just more communication on the matter. But you also have to think about the current situation with other teams, within our club, our under 19s were top of their league, our women’s side had reached two cup finals, what we have been told is that the county are looking to potentially play the cup finals in the summer.
Q: How would you summarise this season for Dartford?
SI : It’s been an incredible transition period, first time we’ve gone outside the club for a manager, we are delighted with the way things have gone, which makes it harder to accept if the league was to get cancelled, the whole club are going in the right direction, from the first team, to the community, to the junior section and the women’s side.