DARLINGTON skipper Craig Liddle is expected to announce his retirement from the game at the end of the season after conceding his playing days are all but over.

While Liddle has decided not to call time on his career with immediate effect, he admits chances of playing again are slim.

The 33-year-old last night informed manager David Hodgson that he would remain on the Quakers playing staff as back-up, despite a painful stomach injury.

Liddle was told by a specialist on Wednesday that the problem will not improve and that there was a high possibility it could get worse.

"I am resigned to the fact it will be time to hang up my boots, although I will see how I feel in the summer," said Liddle.

"You never say never, but I think it will be highly unlikely that I'll be playing again. I have to put my family first and I also have to think about the football club.

"I'm under contract for another year, but I wouldn't like to sit on it when it could be going to good use for other players.

"A final decision will be made in the summer, but if I was a betting man I wouldn't like to bet that I'd play again."

Liddle is due to undergo a knee operation on Tuesday, which could effectively decide his fate.

Quakers begin their Easter weekend programme at home to Kidderminster Harriers tomorrow, before travelling to Bristol Rovers.

And barring a major defensive crisis after the double-header, Liddle will go under the surgeons knife as planned.

"We could pick up five or six injuries over the Easter weekend and I might have to cancel my knee operation," said Liddle. "If I do go ahead with the operation then I won't play again this season and possibly ever again.

"I've been training and I am still getting a lot of pain in the stomach area. The surgeon has told me that surgery will be of no further benefit to me. I know that it's not going to get any better and will probably get worse.

"If I only had Craig Liddle to think about then Craig Liddle would carry on playing."

Quakers' defensive options were yesterday strengthened by the loan signing of Middlesbrough centre-half Matthew Bates until the end of the season.

Bates was an integral part of Boro's FA Youth Cup-winning side last season and has made two substitute appearances for the Teessiders this term.

"Matthew is a player I know all about and he will be a great acquisition," said Quakers' assistant manager Mark Proctor, who had Bates under his wing as Boro's youth-team coach.