Strevens: Robinson a great servant to Dagenham & Redbridge

Robinson made a late substitute appearance in the 2-0 win at Barnet, courtesy of second-half goals from Inih Effiong and Sydney Ibie, to reach the 250-game mark.

And Strevens hailed the long-serving midfielder as a ‘proper Dagger’ after helping him reach his milestone.

“We speak about proper Daggers and he has been that,” Strevens told the club website.

“In 250 appearances he has seen everything at this club, amazing moments. He was here when all the money went and the players left. He stayed beyond it. 

“Him getting injured was a blow to both of us because I wanted him playing but we had a conversation a couple of weeks ago and I wanted to get him on the last home game and I’m glad I got to do it today.

“He has been a proper Dagger and his speech to the boys was, he wants the boys whoever is going to be part of next season to be the ones to try and get this club back into the Football League because that’s what he wants to happen.”

Rumours surrounding Robinson’s future began to circulate after he posted a message on social media following the last home game of the season with FC Halifax Town a week earlier.

And Strevens wished a ‘great servant’ well for the future, adding: “It was a real civil, man-to-man conversation. He’s had a tough year, he’s been away from his family for quite a while and he’s been here a long time, he’s been a great servant for the club and for him it’s a fresh start.

“Unfortunately with football that’s the way it is, we have to move on beyond it, but he has been a brilliant professional for the club, knows what it means to be a Dagger and wherever he goes now I wish him the best of luck.

“Hopefully it’s into the Football League but if it’s the National League, great, because we will come up against him. He’s been amazing.”

Having seen Daggers finish the campaign in 10th place, a year on from just missing out on the play-offs on the last day of the season, Strevens knows what he needs to do in 2023-24.

And he is well aware he will get little rest in the summer as he sets the wheels in motion for a better outcome in 12 months time.

“It’s not a rest now, it’s work time,” he said.

“The staff have been amazing, so helpful since I’ve been here, and the boys’ application has been there for 90 per cent of the time. We’ve had some moments, but you will have moments.

“There’s some good players in the group and we’ve been patient and done things and given everyone chances, but the aim now is to try and do better next season, it has to be.

“It’s amazing to come here and win today but at the end, Barnet are over there in front of their fans and they’ve got a play-off game on Tuesday night and we’re going to be watching it on the TV.

“I’ve got to try my hardest for that to be us next year, I know it isn’t going to be easy, it never is, it’s a tough, tough league. But that’s the aim now.

“Work hard, good recruitment, make some tough decisions on people because they’ve all been great, they’ve been brilliant people but that’s part of my job, and try and build a successful Dagenham team.”