Neil Cugley hopes to appoint a new player-coach early next week following the sudden departure of popular midfielder Darren Smith to Ryman League Division 1 South rivals Leatherhead.

Smith cited family and travelling reasons for his decision to end his four-and-half-year stint at Cheriton Road, his second spell having returned to the club from Chatham in December 2008.

Smith, 36 next week joins several other Kent based players at Leatherhead who are using Dartford as their training base this season, close to his home and work.

Boss Cugley said: Smithy had told me about the offer, but it has left me in the lurch a little bit because Roland Edge isn’t availableeas he is getting married.”

“Life goes on though, and I am talking to somebody, and I also hope to finalise things on a new forward as well.”

Two former players Shane Hamshare and Jimmy Dryden are joining in pre-season training at Cheriton Road.