DAGGERS skipper Mark Arber believes the team can make the required step up to compete in League One next season.

The team’s pulsating 3-2 victory over Rotherham at Wembley on Sunday ensured the club will play at the highest level in their history next season and slug it out with the likes of Charlton, Sheffield Wednesday and Southampton.

Just last season Dagenham were favourites for the drop back into non-league obscurity, but they beat the odds to launch a promotion bid that failed at the final hurdle. That has been rectified this year and Arber is backing the club to defy the bookmakers once again when next season rolls around.

“It’s the biggest level this club has ever played at in their history. When we were in the Conference and we got promoted, people were saying what a fantastic achievement. We’ve got out of League Two and we’ll go again,” he said.

“I’m sure we’ll be strong. People won’t like coming to play us next year. It’s a tight-knit ground and we play at a high tempo. When people look at their fixtures they won’t think Dagenham & Redbridge are an easy game. People have seen today, we give teams a tough game. We’re going in the right direction.”

His thoughts were echoed by one of Sunday’s goalscorers, Paul Benson. “This club, orchestrated by the manager, just seems to get better and better, and he brings us with him. He raises our game and I don’t think he’s going to settle for that. I think he wants to go on again so we’re in for another ride next season. Let’s see where that takes us.”