Dagenham & Redbridge have fresh optimism says Elliot Justham

The player of the season will start his eighth campaign at Victoria Road, as Daggers look for improvement in the National League.

And he believes the club will be well equipped under Ben Strevens, who took over as manager in March and led the side in their last 10 matches.

“Me and gaffer had a good chat in May, obviously being away it’s taken a while to get signed, but absolutely buzzing and now I can hopefully look forward to the rest of my career here,” he told the club website.

“There were some bad performances last year that were, I won’t say unforgiveable but they were bad.

“But I think there’s a fresh optimism with the gaffer and the players are going to fight.”

Justham missed the first four matches of the Strevens’ era due to injury, with Josh Strizovic coming into the side.

But the stalwart saw enough when he did return to want to extend his stay.

“It wasn’t ideal for him, his first game I got injured on the Thursday so I felt bad at the time,” he added.

“I did everything I could to get back and show him I’m willing to fight for this club and it only took me a couple of weeks to come back from an injury that probably was four weeks.

“I just want to repay the faith he has shown in me. He’s been very highly complimentary of me, I know what he wants from me and I feel I can provide that for him. He’s a massive influence in me getting this done.

“We need more clean sheets, there’s no hiding from that, myself included, the defence, midfield, we’ve got to tighten up and we will. 

“I’ve seen in the last six games that I played, we’re going to be a lot tighter defensively. Structurally we look better and I think the fans are onside.”

Justham also feels former Daggers striker Strevens will be able to get the response needed from the players to strengthen their connection with supporters.

“Gaffer knows the club, he’s a Dagger isn’t he?  I know what to expect and we’ve got to bring that to the players that come in and the players that are already here,” he said.

“The ones that we kept and the ones that are going to come in are going to fight for Dagenham. That’s why I want to stay here.

“We’ve all got an understanding that we need to make this club a lot harder for people to come to, no easy ride when they come here.

“Instead of words, actually showing it on the pitch. This year I think we’ve got the best chance of doing that. What that looks like I don’t know but I’m willing to fight and I’m sure all the others will be as well.”

And with the players returning to pre-seson training this week, ahead of their first friendly against Aveley on July 8, Justham is excited by the challenge ahead.

“The new faces that are here and the ones that are coming in that I know of, I’m really excited, and the ones that we’ve got left, we’ve really got to push on,” he added. 

“By our own admission the club hasn’t met expectations over the last few years, for whatever reason but it’s a new slate now.

“The past is the past and we’ve really got to look forward now and I think under this management we’ve got the best chance.”