The Dart(s) Board

I didn't want to believe the rumours circulating but they were obviously true..........

I dont think i've ever felt so dejected, deflated and completely disillusioned going into a new season.

Was this the best applicant we had?
Who were the other applicants?

A short managerial record and not that great, in a lower division as well.

If I'm wrong I'll hold my hand up and apologise but unless we get off to a flying start I can only see this ending very badly very quickly, on and off the pitch.

Some may say i'm being unfair and should give them a chance but i just can't get excited about this appointment whatsoever. I cant help how I feel and at the moment I've never felt this demoralised.
It smacks of jobs for the boys.

Keep The Faith - WTF

Superb appointment, somebody who knows the club inside out.

It will be interesting to see who his backroom staff will be. I assume it will be some of his current team but I wouldn't be surprised to see at least one other ex-player. Personally not disappointed - Ben knows the club really well from grassroots upwards and of course already on a salary with the academy.

Just want to see what he can do to retain the talent we want to keep and hopefully our current academy graduates will be more willing to re-sign.

Welcome into the new role Ben and best of luck

COYD

Pedro wrote: Thu May 07, 2026 3:04 pm It will be interesting to see who his backroom staff will be. I assume it will be some of his current team but I wouldn't be surprised to see at least one other ex-player. Personally not disappointed - Ben knows the club really well from grassroots upwards and of course already on a salary with the academy.

Just want to see what he can do to retain the talent we want to keep and hopefully our current academy graduates will be more willing to re-sign.

Welcome into the new tole Ben and best of luck

COYD

This 100%

Someone who knows the club, wants the best for the club and was willing to leave a good job at Margate to try and take us forward.
Personally think it’s a good move by the club and one that hopefully brings some success back.

I thought he would be good for us but didn’t think he’d leave Margate. Understand why some are unsure but I’m happy with this

Deflated is how i feel, maybe as he has worked with the academy he get the likes of Box Whitfield Sam O Pinder signing for the season,

Just seems like the cheap option,

Hope Im wrong

Is he going to be player manager

Bit underwhelming to be honest

JCJ wrote: Thu May 07, 2026 3:10 pm Deflated is how i feel, maybe as he has worked with the academy he get the likes of Box Whitfield Sam O Pinder signing for the season,

Just seems like the cheap option,

Hope Im wrong

Is he going to be player manager

I know it was a division lower, but Ben banged in 22 league goals last season so it would make sense to include him as at least a squad player.

People crying at this appointment are the same ones who wanted Hakan or Jamie Coyle btw, who would've been far far worse appointments.

I've been muted by 90% of the forum for being negative.....How hypocritical.

Underwhelming sums it up to be honest. I hope that this isn’t a ‘yes man’ appointment and happy to be proven wrong. If all else fails then at least he has experience in the division below…..

We all had our own ideas about who should get the job, but given they were all different it would inevitably be the usual 99% negativity on here whoever was appointed.

For me this shows a lack of ambition from the club, sure he is a nice guy but haven’t we been here before…..

Ironically I dont recall the two previous appointments getting stick on here....

We should at least give him a chance. I’m a bit meh about it too. But we should get behind Ben in the close season and from the off. If it all goes a bit shaped early doors, he’ll find out soon enough.

A bold move by the Board. 26/27 is THE season. The Board know it. He knows it. And we all know it. That means the Board must think Ben is the man who takes Dartford back to the National League. That has to be his remit. Not to consolidate. Not to reach the play offs - just WIN the f*cking thing.

I’m already feeling sorry for him.

I’m happy with this appointment. Had a good record at Margate and always had them at the top end of the table. I hope he has a positive style of play and can bring in the quality we need.

We need to give him a chance. Aveley brought in a manager from the lower league and look where that took them last season as runners up. We can only see how this season goes and then judge from there.

Underwhelming to say the least.
Hope I'm wrong.
But can't help thinking the club is taking a BIG risk.

Sleightly Deceptive wrote: Thu May 07, 2026 3:30 pm We should at least give him a chance. I’m a bit meh about it too. But we should get behind Ben in the close season and from the off. If it all goes a bit shaped early doors, he’ll find out soon enough.

A bold move by the Board. 26/27 is THE season. The Board know it. He knows it. And we all know it. That means the Board must think Ben is the man who takes Dartford back to the National League. That has to be his remit. Not to consolidate. Not to reach the play offs - just WIN the f*cking thing.

I’m already feeling sorry for him.

Agree with all this. Unsure but optimistic because you have to be, especially before a ball is kicked.

Spike wrote: Thu May 07, 2026 3:26 pm We all had our own ideas about who should get the job, but given they were all different it would inevitably be the usual 99% negativity on here whoever was appointed.

This is a fair point to be honest. I can’t think of any ‘contenders’ that had multiple support on here. But I did hear a few verbal ‘why not’s’ at the CVPM game at the mention of Ben. Wouldn’t have been my choice but here he is and best of luck to him. You just never know. I’m going all in with support. But that hasn’t lasted long with me over recent years.

No idea how this will work out. But presumably we had to pay Margste to bring him here so maybe not cheap. Likewise, he knows the club inside out doesn't register for me. He knows where the changing rooms are? Knows the board? Knows we are stagnating and have been in decline for a few years?

I'll welcome him with a clean slate and I hope he can build a better squad and a winning mentality.

Welcome Ben.