Elliot Bradbrook believes Dartford’s new-look squad is the strongest one he’s ever been part of.

The Darts skipper (front row, centre) has backed his side to surprise a few people in the Vanarama Conference this season after their reprieve from relegation.

Many expected Bradbrook to leave the club, because of work commitments, when Salisbury’s financial demise allowed Darts back into non-league’s top flight.

But he stayed loyal and has since been joined at Princes Park by summer signings Harry Crawford, Rory McAuley, Jason Brown and his younger brother Tom Bradbrook among others.

Bradbrook said: "There’s a bit of optimism around the place. We’ve got a good nucleus of what we had last year with some new lads as well.

"On paper, it’s probably the strongest squad we’ve ever had. We’ve had successful teams in the past but if you look at the players we’ve got here and what they’ve done in the past and what they bring, we look in a pretty strong position.

"I don’t think that’s going to change anyone’s mind in terms of the bookies. We’re probably going to be the favourites to go down – but we’ve had that before.

"A lot of us know what it takes in this league now and we’ve got the ingredients to be pretty successful."

Dartford’s reprieve left Bradbrook at a crossroads – momentarily.

He said: "Although there were news stories saying that it might happen, no-one really expected it to happen. But for the club, it’s a good thing they’re back in the Conference.

"It was a difficult decision, personally but once I’d made up my mind that I was going to stay, beforehand, it didn’t take too much time to come around to the fact that I was going to stay and do it in this league."

Read the full interview in the Dartford Messenger.