Persistence and personality were key factors behind the deal which saw former Barnet striker George Sykes agree to join Dartford.

Sykes, 20, was impressed when he first met Darts boss Tony Burman, who had previously tried to bring the centre-forward to Princes Park on loan during his time with the Bees.

He said: "I sent out emails and texts to a few clubs when I left Barnet at the end of last season.

"I wanted to start afresh and was open to most things and most areas.

"I liked what I heard when I sat down with Tony. I looked around the stadium and Tony told me how things worked.

"He said to go away and have a think about it and that if I was still interested, we’d talk contracts and figures.

"I liked Tony from the moment I walked in and that helped. I came back a few days later and we sorted it."

Read the full interview in the Dartford Messenger.