Boss Burnett says defender has turned down new deal at Victoria Road

Wayne Burnett has revealed Scott Doe has rejected the offer of a new contract to remain with Dagenham & Redbridge.

The news came just hours after the fixtures were released for the new League Two season, with Daggers scheduled to visit Portsmouth on the opening day.

It now appears likely that Doe – after 265 appearances for the club – will not be lining up in red at Fratton Park on August 8, and Burnett was quick to pay tribute to the defender.

“We offered him a new deal and were really keen to keep him at the club, but we can only live within our means,” said Burnett.

“He hasn’t accepted the new deal and he could earn more money at probably 20 other clubs in this division. We’re not under any illusions.

“He’s been a great servant to the club and was brilliant at the end of last season. But it’s a short career and he wants to earn more money, so who can blame him?”

Doe’s departure is an unwelcome blow for the Victoria Road club, who were drawn away to Championship side Charlton in the Capital One Cup and given a tough start to the new league campaign.

Following their trip to the South Coast, Daggers entertain local rivals Leyton Orient on August 15 and host Exeter City three days later.

The first month of the new term ends with a trip to beaten play-off finalists Wycombe Wanderers on August 22 and a home match against play-off semi-finalists Stevenage on August 29.

With the exception of Exeter, all those teams are tipped to feature at the top of League Two, but Burnett is relishing the start, adding: “We have to play them at some point, so why not early on?

“The likes of Portsmouth and Orient will be challenging for promotion come the end of the season.

“It will be difficult for us to compare ourselves against the likes of those teams, but it will show us where we are.”

Pompey and O’s also feature in Dagenham’s final six games of the season, a run-in that includes a long trip to Plymouth Argyle.

The last home game is against Crawley Town on April 30, before a final-day trip to Bristol Rovers on May 7. And while it may be a tough stretch of fixtures should Daggers have something to play for at the end of the season, including that meeting with Orient, Burnett appears confident.

He added “It’s something we have to deal with. Come the end of the year, they might be fighting near the top of the table, but it was always going to be tough whenever we play them.”

It may have become even tougher for Daggers if long-serving defender Doe has decided his future lies away from Victoria Road.