2017/18 certainly was the hardest ever season for Dagenham & Redbridge as the resignation of a former director who was funding the club stopped the cash flow on Sunday 31st December 2017 and left the Vanarama National Division side desperately looking for investment. This forced the club to sell players such as Sam Ling to Leyton Orient, Morgan Ferrier and Scott Doe to Boreham Wood and Corey Whitely to Ebbsfleet United.
The uncertainty and loss of some key players caused The Daggers to fall down the table changing from play-off contenders to end up in mid-table eventually ending up in eleventh place. In March they held a fund raising friendly against Premier League West Ham United - a game which was attended by 4,515 people and The Hammers had many first team players in their squad.
Manager John Still left the club over the summer to join relegated former football league side and one of his former clubs in Barnet.
There have been happier times of late when it was announced that Peter Taylor had been appointed as new manager to be assisted by Terry Harris.
The move reunites the duo who worked together at Dartford from 1986 to 1990 and then at Enfield FC in the 1990/91 season when ironically Redbridge Forest pipped their E's team to the Isthmian Premier Division title. Taylor went on to manage England U21, Hull City, Leicester City and Bahrain national team amongst others. His last job was Director of Football and Interim Manager of Gillingham which he left in October 2017.
Harris returns to Victoria Road for his fourth spell as he has previously assisted John Still as Manager. He was Assistant Manager at Boreham Wood last season who reached the play-off final where they lost to Tranmere Rovers.
The club have sent an ambitious target of £150,000 from donations to help keep the club running for the upcoming season, after which they will be able to reset the spending commitments made under the previous owners and investor and change the club to be self-sustaining in the future.
TheColdEnd wishes them the best of luck for the season!
So far they have announced five signings -
Lamar Reynolds, 22, has moved from League Two side Newport County. The forward joined the Welsh club from Brentwood Town last summer but only made 10 appearances before moving on loan to Leyton Orient in January.
Ollie Harfield, 20, has joined from AFC Bournemouth. The left-back started his career at Southampton before moving on to The Cherries before playing on loan at Poole Town and last season at Boreham Wood under Terry Harris. He was substitute in the play-off final.
Another player who represented Boreham Wood last season in defender Alex Davey. The 23 year old started with Chelsea's academy and like many young players at Stamford Bridge has spent time out on loan at various clubs. He was at Scunthorpe United, Peterborough United, Crawley Town and Torquay United. He has also palyed for Stabæk in Norway. He was also on the bench in the play-off final last season.
Defender Gavin Hoyte moves back for a second spell with The Daggers. The former Arsenal player, 28, played under Taylor when he was boss of Gillingham and was with Eastleigh last season.
20 year old midfielder James Blanchfield has signed a one year deal. He played in Arsenal's academy from aged eight to sixteen before moving Ipswich Town where made 56 appearances for their under 23s side. He has also spent time on loan at Aldershot Town.
DAGGER'S PRE-SEASON FIXTURES
Tuesday 10th July - Heybridge Swifts
Friday 13th July - WEST HAM UNITED XI
Tuesday 17th July - COLCHESTER UNITED
Saturday 21st July - Bishops Stortford
Wednesday 25th July - CAMBRIDGE UNTED
Saturday 28th July - Hemel Hempstead Town
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