DARLINGTON manager Dave Penney yesterday began plotting for another stab at promotion when he started his summer clear-out by telling three of his squad they are surplus to requirements.

Guylain Ndumbu-Nsungu, John Brackstone and Kevin Burgess have all worn a Quakers shirt for the final time after they were told that they would not be offered new deals.

Brackstone and Burgess were only ever on periphery of the team, but Ndumbu-Nsungu appeared as a substitute in Saturday's play-off semi-final at Rochdale.

Although he scored in the penalty shoot-out, the striker otherwise put in a languid display which can have done little to enhance his chances of extending his second spell at the Darlington Arena.

The 25-year-old rejoined in January but throughout his stay, in which he scored three goals in 11 appearances, Ndumbu-Nsungu struggled with an ankle injury sustained during one of his final training sessions with former club Bradford City in December.

He had joined the Bantams last summer after unimpressing in spells at Gillingham and Cardiff City who he joined after first leaving Quakers in the middle of 2005/06.

He scored 11 goals in 23 appearances during that campaign but only fleetingly did he recapture the form that had earned him a move to Cardiff.

Hartlepool-born left-back Brackstone, 23, signed last summer after being released by his hometown club but made just six appearances.

Despite Tim Ryan's absence through injury, Brackstone was continually overlooked as Penney brought in a raft of new left-backs in the form of Paul Mayo, Lee Ridley and Ben Parker while the versatile Rob Purdie was also used there.

Centre-back Burgess, 20 made just two appearances, both as sub, after being released by Middlesbrough in January 2007.

Penney may not yet be finished his purge. Several others are out of contact and they will be informed of their fate tomorrow.

Meanwhile, Rochdale's hopes of winning Monday's League Two play-off final against Stockport have suffered a blow as their appeal against the red card shown to David Perkins in Saturday's match has been rejected by the FA.

He was dismissed for serious foul play after a challenge on Ricky Ravenhill in the second half of extra-time.

Referee Richard Beeby showed little hesitation in showing a red card, the third time this season that the ex-Morecambe midfielder has been dismissed.

Dale chairman Chris Dunphy was angry about the decision which means Perkins misses out on a Wembley appearance for the second season running. Morecambe reached the Conference play-off final last season, four months after Perkins had joined Dale.

Dunphy blasted the FA, saying: "I am personally outraged to be honest because anyone who saw that on television could see that there was no contact.

"We felt confident that the decision could be overturned and we are stunned.

"The referee got it wrong and everyone can see that he got it wrong and this underlines the poor standard of refereeing that we have seen at Rochdale this season."

11:03am Wednesday 21st May 2008

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