Dartford are closing in on their new manager.

KentOnline understands the Darts are keen to make an appointment before this Saturday’s National League South home game with third-placed Worthing.

Dartford sacked Alan Dowson in mid-January but they’ve taken just four points from eight games since that decision under the caretaker charge of Tony Burman.

They sit just four points and three places above the relegation zone with 11 games remaining.

Ironically, Aveley manager Danny Scopes, who guided his team to victory at Princes Park on Tuesday night, is believed to be leading the race to take charge at Princes Park.

Burman, as he has throughout the recruitment process, refused to be drawn on any timeframe but admitted that he expected a better points return during his caretaker tenure.

“It’s brutal and that’s management and football,” said Burman. “You’ve got to be honest with yourself.

“Sometimes you just have to say that you’ve tried your hardest, the players have tried their hardest but there’s just that lack of belief and a little bit of confidence.

“It’s tough and as I said before, there’s no magic wand. You try your hardest but the points that we’ve accumulated since I’ve been here have been so disappointing. I have to say we’ve deserved more but it hasn’t happened.

“I’ve been in charge for eight games, we haven’t turned the corner and we’re still where we are. We may have got some better performances but the results are what they are and we’ve only got four points which is so disappointing for myself and the players.

“The desired effect didn’t happen. The supporters have been excellent, I can’t fault them and a lot of people have been behind us but we just haven’t picked up enough points.

“We’ve been so close but the bottom line is we’re down there. The league table doesn’t lie and we have to pick up points.

“Everybody knows you need around 50 points, we’re not running out of games but we haven’t picked up as many points as I thought we would do.”

Burman added: “I’m not saying it needs a fresh voice but we’re getting close to them things happening. I’ve come in to help out. Has it helped out with the points we’ve got? No, it hasn’t.”

Any potential new manager will be up against a Worthing side that saw their long-serving manager Adam Hinshelwood depart for National League strugglers York City on Tuesday.

York splashed the cash in the summer but it hasn’t happened under two previous managers this season and the relegation-threatened outfit have turned to Hinshelwood to keep them up.

Worthing have appointed former club captain Aarran Racine as interim manager with coaches Gary Elphick and Cameron Morrison also leaving for York.