Dartford boss Ady Pennock has admitted rebuilding his squad from scratch this summer has been his toughest task in management.

The former Gillingham, Forest Green, Barrow and Welling manager took over Dartford towards the end of last season with the club hurtling towards relegation.

Pennock was unable to save the Darts from dropping into the Isthmian Premier but he’s now got the chance to stamp his authority on the club and work with a new set of players. Only academy products Sam Odaudu, Olly Box and George Whitefield remain.

It’s a new situation for Pennock but a challenge that he’s already relishing.

“It’s the hardest thing I’ve ever done,” revealed Pennock. “I’ve never been in a situation before when I’ve had to get a whole squad together.

“I’ve literally started from scratch as we’ve had only Sam, Olly and George from last season. I only saw Sam in one-and-a-half games last season so he’s like a new player to me as well but he’s come back fit and strong.

“It’s unusual for me to start from scratch as that is tough, and it’s been tough. You’ve got to get the balance of the budget, the budget is what it is so you’re spinning plates all the time but I’m very pleased at the moment.

“I wanted to keep eight or nine, I’ve said that before. One player from last year has stayed in the league we’re going into for more money elsewhere which is fair enough. You’ve got to be realistic, money [talks] and it’s a tough world out there.

“Whatever happened last season has happened but they were all good lads, no one wanted to get relegated but they were honest. They didn’t want to drop down into the Isthmian League, that was a key factor.

“If people had stayed here from last year, then there could have been a bit of a hangover or some baggage from last season. But it’s all fresh, it’s all new and I’m buzzing.”

Pennock has signed 10 new players already in the close season.

There’s still room for around four signings before they kick-off their Isthmian Premier campaign on August 10 but Pennock is not putting a timeframe on getting deals over the line.

It’s a fluid market at the moment as players try to earn deals with clubs higher up.

“I’ve said before that at the end of last season I could have signed 20 players in the first week but it was about getting it right,” stated Pennock.

“We’ve got to do things right and get the right characters in, I want people who want to play for this football club and play for the shirt and I believe we have that.

“I’m willing to wait. I have irons in the fire. We had some trialists against Charlton who did well and there’s more games coming up for them. The season starts on August 10 so we’ve got plenty of time still.

“There’s two players that I’m waiting on but there’s other things involved, I can’t really say too much about it. You need a bit of luck sometimes for things to fall into place.

“I won’t sign anybody who doesn’t want to come here or is going to mess me about for the next two or three weeks. I want people who want to come here, look at the facilities, the stadium and want to be at Dartford. The players that are here said ‘wow, what a great stadium’ when they walked in the door.”

Pennock also gave encouragement to youngsters in the club’s academy that they will get their chance if they are good enough.

He added: “We have a very good academy here and it will be silly for me not to dip in there.

“I want to get 15-16 players but I do want to rely on the academy and loans as the season goes on as we will get suspensions and little injuries.

“It doesn’t matter how old you are, you can be 45 or 15 - if you’re good enough you’re going to play.

“I’ll be crazy to ignore them and I won’t be doing that.”