ADY'S TAKING NOTHING FOR GRANTED IN A BIG DARTS BID

ADY PENNOCK insists Dartford are not a ‘big fish in a small pond’ after relegation to the Isthmian Premier Division – and is convinced it will be an intense battle for promotion.

- Matthew Nash

Former Welling United boss Pennock arrived at the Darts in March but it was too late to keep them in National League South as the club slipped out of Step 2, with chairman Steve Irving previously stating they were “shocked” at the outcome.

After reaching the playoffs in four of the past six seasons, the drop was unforeseen for a club which averages over a thousand fans at their Princes Park home – the tenth best in the 24-team division last term.

While many will make Dartford one of the favourites for promotion, Pennock does not see it being an easy ride in a Premier Division including sides such as Billericay Town, Dover Athletic, Dulwich Hamlet and Canvey Island.

For the Darts it has been a rebuilding job this summer and the 53-year-old said: “I don’t see us as a big fish in a small pond but people will come here and enjoy the stadium, enjoy the pitch, which is beautiful, then we have to give them a game and we are good enough to be able to mix it as well as play good football.