Darlington manager Mick Tait last night revealed the club will not be appealing against Gary Pearson's sending off at the weekend.

The Quakers boss was unhappy with referee Frazer Stretton after Pearson was dismissed for a second bookable offence towards the end of Saturday's 2-0 win over Carlisle.

Tait claimed Pearson won the ball cleanly from Cumbrians captain Peter Murphy. However, after failing with several appeals last season, Tait has reluctantly accepted Pearson's fate, which will see him miss the trip to Torquay a week on Saturday.

"In our opinion Gary won the ball but the referee thought otherwise and we have to accept that," said Tait.

"Not many referees like to go back on their decisions and I doubt whether this will be any different.

"We could appeal against the sending off but as we saw last season, more often that not, nothing changes."

And with skipper Craig Liddle the only player to appeal successfully last season following his dismissal at Hull, Tait admitted the chances of Pearson achieving a similar outcome remain slim.

"There was only Lidds who won and that was hardly straight forward because we had to take it to a special panel," said Tait.

And while Tait will be disappointed to lose a player with the commitment qualities of Pearson, the Quakers boss has every confidence in replacing the versatile player - with both Neil Maddison and Fabian Bossy on standby.

"I thought Gaz did very well against Carlisle and I'm sure we will miss him for a game," said Tait. But we have players who are capable of coming in and doing a job like Maddo and Fabian Bossy."

Darlington Reserves are in action at Notts County this afternoon, where Tait is expected to run the rule over the fitness of duo Neil Wainwright and Russell Waller.

Winger Wainwright has made just one appearance this season due to a groin injury while Australian Waller looks set make his latest comeback following a career threatening cruciate knee ligament injury.

Striker Danny Mellanby is also in line for a start as he continues to build up his fitness following a rib injury.

* Notts County's administrator believes the Division Two club will solve their financial crisis before the Football League's three-month deadline expires.

Paul Finnity, a partner in the Kroll team which is handling County's administration, said: ''The Football League have granted an additional three months to finalise the deal, which means the immediate threat of extinction has been lifted from Notts County.

''This should provide more than enough time to complete the deal, but at the same time, this is our last chance and provides us with a certain focus.''

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