Dartford manager Alan Dowson insisted he isn’t worried about making big-name signings.

The Darts continued their rebuilding project with three new faces this week - goalkeeper Mitchell Beeney, winger Brandon Barzey and midfielder Tyrell Miller-Rodney.

The trio were playing in National League South last season but Dowson sees that as a strength rather than a weakness, even if they’re not household names around Princes Park.

“I know how tough the league is going to be this year,” said Dowson.

“I’m trying to get people who might not be big names and things like that, but they’ll be big names by the end of the season - put it that way.

“The bottom line is that we’re very competitive but we can’t compete with paying silly money for players who I don’t think are worth it.

“I’m not going for these non-league names and some of them haven’t won anything in the past, anyway.

“I want to get players who have been at this level before and that I believe in. All the signings will be on my head, I never have the chairman or Tony Burman interfere in that.

“I’m trying to build a team that will work hard for each other. Hopefully that will lead to us having another successful season.

“If these so-called bigger clubs are paying out £700 a week, 52 weeks a year, then we can’t do that. Let’s not pretend that we can.

“If we can’t, then I’ve got to get my finger out and do something about it. All of the lads I am signing want to prove they can step up a level.

“Some people might have been there and done it and just want to pick up a pay cheque somewhere - we’re not having any of that here.”

Miller-Rodney only joined Havant from Hampton & Richmond in January but arrives at Princes Park as an accomplished National League South midfielder.

“He was captain of Hampton and then he went to Havant, I’ve always liked the lad,” said Dowson.

“He’s full of energy, he’s a bit of a leader as well. We needed to add a bit of steel to our midfield ranks and I’m pleased to get him.

“Get him on the ball or in one-against-one situations and there won’t be as many players as quick as him in there. We’ve got players that want to come here.

“Something happened on his contract. He had a year’s option but I think it was too late to chase up. Havant wanted to keep him but he wanted to come to Dartford.”

Barzey is another ex-Hampton player. The 23-year-old has also played international football for Montserrat and Dowson is excited to watch him flourish in a Dartford shirt.

“He’s a very exciting player, the fans will like him,” claimed Dowson. “He was Hampton’s best player before he got his injury.

“I like his directness, I felt we needed some pace and youth in the side and I like him in one-on-one situations. I don’t think there will be many wingers better than him running at people.”

Beeney won’t be the first member of his family to represent Dartford, brother Jordan was on loan from Charlton briefly in 2017.

The former Chelsea youngster, who featured for Concord last season, is now 27.

“He's 6ft5in and will command his box,” said Dowson. “He can get better, and he has to.

“He did really well at Chelsea, went to the Football League at Hartlepool and Newport. He had a bad experience at Newport and fell out of love with the game.

“He needs a kick up the backside which is what I will give him - and he knows that. I think he will be a great asset for the club, he’s a local lad who wants to get back up the ladder and get back into the Football League.

“I’m not going for big-name players who look good on paper, I’m signing hungry players who want to do well for the club.”

Darts have retained winger Luke Coulson, bringing their new-look squad up to 15.

“Luke did well but there’s more to come - 100% - and he knows that,” said Dowson.

“We’re giving him more responsibility this year, I don’t think there’s many better players at getting the ball in the box.

“We all agree that his quality is undoubted, we just need to see more of it all the time.”