Watching his mates celebrate promotion with other clubs has fired up Ryan Hayes to help bring the good times back to Dartford.

Hayes signed a new contract at Princes Park this week following Darts’ relegation from the Vanarama Conference.

The 29-year-old’s pain at going down for a second season running was in stark contrast to the recent celebrations elsewhere in Kent.

Hayes said: "All you want to do as a footballer is win things.

"I’ve been seeing things on Twitter about Bromley and Maidstone and that’s what I want, to be celebrating. I’ve seen some of my old mates winning things and want that to be me.

"The one thing you never want on your CV is a relegation and we all want to bounce back. That’s the league (the Conference) where everyone wants to be."

Hayes’ new deal will take him into an 11th season with Dartford and he’s determined to get back to his best.

He said: "I’ve not had a brilliant season. I scored seven or eight goals but goals don’t matter if you’re not winning games.

"It’s my job to provide goals and I’ve not done that as well as I should."

Read the full interview in the Dartford Messenger.