By Steve Tervet

Mark Arber will not retire this summer and the defender is hoping to land himself a new contract at Dartford.

The 35-year-old made 44 appearances for the Darts this season after opting to move into part-time football last summer.

Arber’s professional career spanned 15 years and included spells with Barnet, Peterborough and Dagenham.

He was a mainstay of the Darts side which finished eighth in Conference Premier this season and insisted he’s not about to hang his boots up.

Arber said: "I do ask the question (about carrying on) every year. If I couldn’t do it, I wouldn’t. I spoke to the manager over the weekend and I reiterated that point to him.

"I’d like to think that my performances over the course of the season have justified I can still do it. I’ll be man enough to say when it isn’t for me any more.

"I want to play football. Where it will be (next season), I don’t know at this moment.

"If Dartford want me to stay, I’ll stay. I could go and earn more money elsewhere but I’m not a player motivated by money and I’d be doing myself an injustice. I’m not in it for one last payday."

Read the full interview in this week's Dartford Messenger