The state of Dartford football club

[Tall Dart]

Should we expect some sort of announcement from the club regarding our relegation? Personally I would expect something apart from thanking the fans for attending despite the poor season we have had, so fans can buy into next season - the sooner the better IMO

[Taunton Dart]

Unfortunately timely announcements from the club are not their strong suit. This is one area that seriously needs addressing

[DA Mikey]

Should we expect some sort of announcement from the club regarding our relegation? Personally I would expect something apart from thanking the fans for attending despite the poor season we have had, so fans can buy into next season - the sooner the better IMO

Ha ha! Fifteen days late with that one fella!

[Sleightly Deceptive]

Should we expect some sort of announcement from the club regarding our relegation? Personally I would expect something apart from thanking the fans for attending despite the poor season we have had, so fans can buy into next season - the sooner the better IMO

Ha ha! Fifteen days late with that one fella!

Took me a while.

[Bagdhad Billy]

The club has been leader less for a long time..

Fans who are on talking terms with the board continually don’t state how bad the club is being run because they are their friends…

This has allowed the board to be negligent with our club to the point we are the laughing stock of Kent football being overtaken by clubs such as Bromley, Tonbridge, Welling, Chatham hell even Ramsgate have been proactive with their club and regularly see big attendances and cup runs….

We came through the leagues because we had a free stadium with no rent and a large interest from a massive catchment area of a club that could go places. That’s the easy part it’s easy to pat people on the back for being the biggest club with the biggest budget and the least outgoings due to no rent but from there the board did nothing…

They are the untouchables and that has driven away support since the National league prem days when Tony Burman had a free pass and would never be challenged or managed on performances, I remember Tony coming out in the press when we lost 6-0 to Dover and praising the “true” supporters who sang his name regardless of how poor performances and selection were which was in my eyes the start of the “boys club” mentality which will see the club back in the Ishmian.

This is the people of Dartfords club, not the privileged few on the board or not their mates who talk to them in the stand this club belongs to the town of Dartford and as soon as we get people in to run the club for the people of Dartford we will start to actually see its potential.

[Tall Dart]

We have definitely dropped a bollock, I think the board will hopefully reflecting on this and sort out the mess. I give them credit for finally backing down on the banning of the youth, albeit much longer than it should have been. Hopefully it went can get the constructive points across through the forum they may listen. As we know nobody looks at it

[Taunton Dart]

The club has been leader less for a long time..

Fans who are on talking terms with the board continually don’t state how bad the club is being run because they are their friends…

This has allowed the board to be negligent with our club to the point we are the laughing stock of Kent football being overtaken by clubs such as Bromley, Tonbridge, Welling, Chatham hell even Ramsgate have been proactive with their club and regularly see big attendances and cup runs….

We came through the leagues because we had a free stadium with no rent and a large interest from a massive catchment area of a club that could go places. That’s the easy part it’s easy to pat people on the back for being the biggest club with the biggest budget and the least outgoings due to no rent but from there the board did nothing…

They are the untouchables and that has driven away support since the National league prem days when Tony Burman had a free pass and would never be challenged or managed on performances, I remember Tony coming out in the press when we lost 6-0 to Dover and praising the “true” supporters who sang his name regardless of how poor performances and selection were which was in my eyes the start of the “boys club” mentality which will see the club back in the Ishmian.

This is the people of Dartfords club, not the privileged few on the board or not their mates who talk to them in the stand this club belongs to the town of Dartford and as soon as we get people in to run the club for the people of Dartford we will start to actually see its potential.

Ok, so what do you suggest needs changing and how?

[Bagdhad Billy]

Simply run the club professionally, if I had a week free I could list everything however I run a business myself and my only job for 60 hours a week is to ensure it is running at its maximum potential.

Please tell me you can see how bad the decision have been at our club and it is massively under achieving ?

[KentC]

The club has been leader less for a long time..

Fans who are on talking terms with the board continually don’t state how bad the club is being run because they are their friends…

This has allowed the board to be negligent with our club to the point we are the laughing stock of Kent football being overtaken by clubs such as Bromley, Tonbridge, Welling, Chatham hell even Ramsgate have been proactive with their club and regularly see big attendances and cup runs….

We came through the leagues because we had a free stadium with no rent and a large interest from a massive catchment area of a club that could go places. That’s the easy part it’s easy to pat people on the back for being the biggest club with the biggest budget and the least outgoings due to no rent but from there the board did nothing…

They are the untouchables and that has driven away support since the National league prem days when Tony Burman had a free pass and would never be challenged or managed on performances, I remember Tony coming out in the press when we lost 6-0 to Dover and praising the “true” supporters who sang his name regardless of how poor performances and selection were which was in my eyes the start of the “boys club” mentality which will see the club back in the Ishmian.

This is the people of Dartfords club, not the privileged few on the board or not their mates who talk to them in the stand this club belongs to the town of Dartford and as soon as we get people in to run the club for the people of Dartford we will start to actually see its potential.

Perfectly said, you could say more. The boys club is responsible for this. This is our community football club run by the owners for themselves and their friends.
This comment may take backlash but the sole reason for that is because it’s the absolute truth. If you don’t see it it’s because you don’t want to.

[MickW]

Its dead easy to effect change on the board - buy yourself some shares, convince your mates to do the same, demand an emergency general shareholders meeting and put forward a motion to sack the board and get yourself elected as chairman.

[Ozytalksbull]

Yep the old boys club said it for years and got plenty of stick of a few old boys on here
But unfortunately my prediction a few years ago has come to fruition
Poorly run club, and many voted with there feet
The old boys are now turning I’ve noted from there posts on here
The whole board needs a shake up
Not matter what ideas some come up with I’d say they will just be ignored

Baghdad has put it absolutely spot on
A club for mates run by mates

[Babylon]

I wish that I knew everything that is wrong and why we have gone from being a club challenging for promotion back to the National league to 14th in this present league in less than 2 years.
All sorts of theories no doubt
But to me it is pretty obvious...
Without slagging off any individual players ,we simply don't have the quality of player that we had 2-3 years ago.
Yes we have some promising new lads in our ranks but as a team I can only see a lower mid table finish or Heaven forbid a relegation scrap.
I must admit that I expected a promotion challenge when I purchased my season ticket .
But to be honest I,like several other half way line regulars am sadly dissapionted with the lack of quality in our team.
I won't criticise the effort but we just don't have enough guile and ability to beat even the average teams in this league.

[Hitchin Dart79]

Stick the kids in at least they care rather than the poor journeymen who just pick up their money each month and offer and give nothing

[JCJ]

Stick the kids in at least they care rather than the poor journeymen who just pick up their money each month and offer and give nothing

Surly putting the kids in will end one way with relegation, not saying they don’t care about the club but some of them just not good enough at the moment

[Ozytalksbull]

[DA Mikey]

Only just realised that Needham Market are above us in the pyramid now. Granted, bottom of the NLN, but still an eye-opener.

[Lars Resort]

I put teams like Aveley, Hornchurch and Radcliffe in that category Mikey. No offence to them. Yes, they have money coming in in some cases but also they look to have good managers involved too.

[Jonty]

There’s only one way this club will move on and back to the top of the non league pyramid….board out and a new board in FACT

It's not a fact Ozy, this is just your personal opinion, how would you put this in place for a club that has a different constitution to normal clubs. I would like to know your plan or maybe you can help your Premier League club out. Crystal Palace ain't doing much these days are they...maybe they need a new board.

Something is clearly going wrong at our club, it has lost direction and leadership, whether that is with the board or the first team manager, who sets the tone from the supporters perspective. I would love our club to try something different and get someone onboard like Sophie Purves a real proven troubleshooter, she would review everyone's role within the club, especially those behind the scene running the club on a daily basis. Clearly, someone(s) not doing their job(s). Getting the match day board correct on the main gate would be a good start. She would raise the profile of the club, generate more income through increased sales using her great marketing skills and make us a great community club once again. Even M1 South is an admirer.

We have lost so many supporters over the years, even hard core one's like Mad Mod, who now goes to watch West Ham instead. We need to be asking questions to these supporters on why they have turned their backs. Something has changed at the club and as some on here would say, it now goes beyond apathy. How has the club got to this point and what is the solution.

[Babylon]

A lot has changed in the last 18 months at DFC and I find myself losing interest after many ,many years of following the Darts.
I Gave up with away games years ago but I have bought a season ticket for the last 18 years ,but if this garbage we are enduring continues I simply won't bother .
As I have said before I don't question the effort and well meaning but imho we are nowhere near good enough to be anywhere near the play off places.
When the real cold weather comes I can see gates of 500 simply because the team ain't doing it .
Sorry but this squad is imho the poorest we have had since we reformed in the Kent league in the 1990s.

[Lars Resort]

And we are slowly slipping back that way.