Daggers plan for League Two

By Pete Oliver

Dagenham and Redbridge's Conference-winning players will form the backbone of their club's first ever tilt at the Football League.

Still wants Dagenham to end their season with a win

Daggers boss John Still will look to add to, rather than replace, his current crop of players after they bow out of Conference football with Saturday's game against Gravesend and Northfleet.

And Still expects to have a place in his squad for long-serving goalkeeper Tony Roberts, whose return to League football had been thrown into question following his earlier 'retirement' through injury.

Roberts, 37, accepted an insurance pay-out when a finger injury forced him to leave Millwall in 1998 before reviving his career two years later with the Daggers.

However, Still is confident that a settlement will be reached to allow the former QPR number one to play in League Two next season.

"That is on-going. But I don't see a real problem. I am sure we can make that work," Still told BBC Sport.

There will also be Football League contracts for the bulk of Roberts' team-mates once Still gets down to serious preparation for life at a higher level.

"I would think so. They have done so well and there's no reason to believe that most of them won't adjust. I do really feel there's more improvement in them," Still added.

I will certainly be trying to make that squad stronger Dagenham boss John Still

"I know really what I am doing and which areas I want to address. There won't be major changes, although there will be changes.

"We don't have a big squad at the moment and I will certainly be trying to make that squad stronger."

Still, who previously guided Maidstone to promotion from the Conference in 1989, built his latest title-winning side around some outstanding non-league talent moulded into a highly organised, supremely fit side.

He may now look to add some League experience to avoid suffering the kind of struggle last season's Conference champions Accrington Stanley are enduring near the foot of League Two.

Accrington's cause has not been helped by the sale of star performers Gary Roberts and Ian Craney and Still believes his side can follow the more common trend of promoted teams maintaining their momentum.

"I think we can," he said. "Early on we might find it slightly different but once we get into it I think we'll be happy with it."

First though, the Daggers end their non-league days with Saturday's home fixture against Gravesend at what will be an emotional Victoria Road.

The presentation of the championship trophy will follow and an open-top bus parade and civic reception is planned for 6 May.

606: DEBATE Can Dagenham end their season with a win?

But football comes first for Still and with three points guaranteeing a share of the record Conference tally of 95 and Gravesend needing victory for a chance of the play-offs, the Daggers' boss is pleased to have something to play for.

He said: "After the (title clinching) Aldershot game we had two games in quick succession and emotionally we weren't prepared for those. It would have been a surprise if we had been.

"But since we have had our feet back on the ground and got on with the job and done well.

"And for Saturday we could not have asked for a better game. We are playing a team who are not just coming here to see out the season.

"Hopefully there will be a decent crowd and a decent atmosphere and then when it's ended we can have the presentation knowing that we've had a game on."