Dartford boss Tony Burman says he's delighted to have signed Tom Murphy - less than six months after he turned down a move to Princes Park.

The 25-year-old, who had just completed a loan spell at Eastbourne, joined Maidstone from Dover in the close season.

Murphy snubbed Dartford’s advances then but Burman is pleased to finally land his man.

“I tried to sign Tom in the summer but he turned me down for the right reasons, he wanted to play at a higher level,” said Burman.

“He had a number of clubs chasing him and he chose Maidstone.

“It didn’t quite work out with him, I didn’t want to take him on loan, if he wanted to come, I wanted him to be here permanently.

“He has a lot of pace, he can play left, right or up front and will settle in well. He has a lot of experience for a 25-year-old.”

Murphy is Burman’s first major signing of the season – a reflection of his trust in developing a squad of players and his preference for permanent signings rather than loan moves.

“Loans are usually when you have injured players to have a stopgap there,” he said.

“I like to bring them in signed (permanently), so they are with us and up for the cause."

Ellis Brown has followed Tom Gardiner in quitting Darts, joining Ryman League, Division 1 North Thamesmead.