Tony Burman believes his band of returning stars have made Dartford better equipped to survive in the Vanarama Conference than they were a year ago.

Of the eight summer arrivals at Princes Park, Adam Green, Rory McAuley, Andy Pugh, Harry Crawford and Tom Bradbrook have all played for Burman before.

It’s a recruitment policy which Burman, whose side entertain Wrexham this Saturday, decided on when his side were relegated from non-league’s top flight in April – before being reprieved in June.

Burman said: "It was a deliberate tactic. When we were relegated to Conference South, I wanted to attract players that had been with us before, who know what we’re about, what we want, how the club is and how things run.

"We wanted players around us who we know well and who do their best. When we got reprieved back into Conference Premier, the players all stayed with us (except Paul Lorraine) and they want to put the wrong right.

"We’ve got 16 players on contract (17 after midfielder Peter Sweeney signed a contract on Wednesday) and they’re players we know about. Last year, we didn’t have that many but it wasn’t for the want of trying.

"People were turning me down or wanting too much money.

"At the start of last season, we thought we had it but it wasn’t to be. It is what it is but I just feel we’re in a better position this year."

Full story in the Dartford Messenger.