Dartford caretaker boss Tony Burman felt a lot of aggravation could have been saved after their game at Truro was called off just over an hour before kick-off on Tuesday night.

The Darts made the near six-hour journey to face Truro at their Plymouth Parkway FC home only for the National League South match to be postponed due to a frozen pitch.

It left players and supporters furious with the decision on social media and Burman was equally disappointed.

“It’s a long way to go,” said Burman. “When we got there, 75 per cent of the pitch was probably playable but the referee had his concerns and didn’t think it was going to get any better.

“It’s so disappointing because it doesn’t have to happen. It’s Truro’s responsibility to see whether the game is on or if there is any doubt, and with the weather forecast we just felt that a referee should have been called in earlier on in the day and saved a lot of aggravation.

“The referee was in an awful position as he wants to ensure the safety of the players and he’s had to make his call tonight.”

Dartford’s original game at Truro was postponed in November due to a waterlogged pitch, albeit the decision was made that day before the players left Kent.

But they were at the ground this time around, along with a handful of fans who had made the journey.

“We’re disappointed for the supporters and it’s happened twice now, some of them have gone down there twice,” said Burman. “It’s just something that the league have got to look into in these situations.

“If we can have the communication earlier on in the day it would be so much easier and better. In this instance I don’t think we’ve had that with our colleagues at Truro and it would help everyone if they knew what was going on.

“They’re behind on their games and it means we have to come back down here. Hopefully we can wait for some dry weather and make sure the game is on.

“All we wanted was a courtesy call from someone to say the game is definitely on, and it’s from Truro and not Plymouth Parkway.”

Burman is in charge for a fifth time at Dartford - his first stint was in the 1990s - following the club’s decision to sack Alan Dowson.

His first match at the helm this time around is now due to be at Bath this Saturday.

“It would have been nice to have the game, I was looking forward to it,” he said. “The guys have responded in the right way, the last two training sessions have been reasonably good.

“It’s always difficult when a manager loses his job. I’ve come into it but sometimes you wish you don’t because it’s when a manager has lost his job. It’s happened and we have to get on with things.

“We parted company with Dowse and these things take time. We weren’t looking for a replacement so now we have to wait for the applications to come in.

“The club asked me again to take over and that’s what I’ve done, it’s not something I would say no to. All I want is the best for the club and supporters and everyone around us.”