Missing out on Charlie Sheringham this week has only strengthened Tony Burman’s belief that Dartford need to go full-time.

Sheringham signed a two-year deal at Ebbsfleet on Monday, turning down the chance to join the Darts for a third spell.

Training three mornings a week with the Fleet ultimately made Sheringham’s mind up, even though Burman tried to meet the former AFC Wimbledon player halfway.

Burman said: "To be fair to Charlie, we spoke and we offered him a deal here which was not a greedy deal. Charlie accepted it was a fair offer but he wanted to stay full-time and that meant training during the day.

"We offered him to do some training in the daytime, although it wouldn’t have been with everybody else.

"There were offers from clubs where he’d have had to move away from home. He made the decision to play in a lower league with Ebbsfleet, but he’s been very fair with us.

"We were very close to signing Charlie, but it was the full-time part which swayed him."

Dartford are gearing up for their third straight season in Conference Premier, having been reprieved from relegation last month. They’re one of the few part-time clubs in the division and Burman knows that has to change – gradually – if they want to be competitive in the long-term.

He said: "We’ve got to do it. Players will sign and there will be the option for them to train in the morning."

Full story in the Dartford Messenger.