Dartford tried to sign Paul Lorraine before the Ebbsfleet captain agreed a new contract at Stonebridge Road.

The Darts were just one of several clubs interested in landing the 29-year-old, who has been a fixture in the Fleet defence for the last three years.

When the Fleet were relegated from Conference Premier and an unpaid tax bill left the club facing a winding-up order, it looked as though all their star players would leave.

Dartford manager Tony Burman was hopeful of bringing Lorraine to Princes Park but the picture changed when Kuwaiti investors cleared Ebbsfleet’s debts and took the club over.

Burman said: “We were interested because Paul’s a good player. What’s happened at Ebbsfleet changed his mind and that’s fine. They’ve sorted out some of their problems and their players will act accordingly.

“I can’t say he wasn’t on our radar because he was but nothing was set in stone that we were going to sign him.

“The main thing to come out of it is that Ebbsfleet are still around and that’s what everyone wanted. No-one wants to see another club go into administration or go under.”