After scoring 36 goals last season, Tooting & Mitcham United’s Dan Summers is one of the hottest non-League properties of the summer.

But the striker has confirmed his decision to stay with the Ryman Division One South outfit and is now looking to greatly improve on last year’s 16th place finish.

He said: “Last season wasn’t a good year for us – we had a good squad, with a lot of quality, but simply didn’t deliver.

“We started off well enough, but it all started to unravel around Christmas time. A lot of it was down to the condition of the pitches.

“When they were nice, we played well, but when they weren’t we had no plan B.”

Summers, last season’s top scorer in the league, was approached by various clubs earlier this summer, but is excited by the changes that have recently taken place at Imperial Fields and does not regret his decision to stay.

The rumour mill had suggested Summers would look for pastures new – especially after former manager and close friend Craig Tanner was dismissed towards the end of last season.

“A few clubs approached me in recent months, but I wanted to stay with Tooting. I enjoy my football here and have a great rapport with the fans and the people at the club,” he said.

“It was sad to see Craig leave.

“We’ve been close friends for a long time and regularly speak to each other. He helped me a lot and I hope he continues to coach somewhere else.

“But Frank [Wilson] has come in and I’m looking forward to working with him. He’s added to the squad with some top quality and apparently more faces are going to come in.

“There is a really nice camaraderie between the boys now and we want to be challenging for promotion next season – there can be no more excuses,” he added.

The Terrors start their new league campaign at East Grinstead Town on August 8.