Darlington's friendly with Durham City on Tuesday night saw yet more trialists in Quaker colours, and their performances drew a mixed response from the management team.

Despite already having players in mind he would like to sign, notably left-back Ryan Valentine, midfielder Ashley Nicholls and Carlisle defender Stuart Whitehead, manager Tommy Taylor is content to let potential new players give themselves a chance as part of the rebuilding work.

But after playing most of Tuesday's game, robust former Arsenal youth striker Richard Goddard and American midfielder Noel Staiano were not considered better than the players already in the first team squad and will not be playing for the Quakers next year.

Neither will Darlington-born Danny Richmond, who played centre-midfield on Tuesday.

Ex-York player Mark Thompson, who usually plays in midfield, did not disgrace himself at right-back and a decision has yet to be made on his future, while left-backs John Burnwood and Shaun Hope both performed well.

Hope, originally from Hartlepool, has been released by Coventry, while Burnwood, having been released by Wimbledon, may be considered youth team material as he is just 17 and would be given time to develop.

As good as they were, neither did enough to surpass former Everton man Valentine, who remains a wanted man at Feethams.

Assistant manager Mick Tait said: "We've told him he's done very well so far. Of all the left-backs we've seen he is in pole position."

Nicholls, 20, has greatly impressed both Taylor and Tait, who are hoping to sign him, and Valentine, by the end of the week. Both should play against Newcastle at Feethams tomorrow night.

Like Valentine, Nicholls did not play against Durham, but Tait explained: "We saw enough of him in London at the weekend to know he's good enough.

"He's been training with Hereford last week and this and he has to have a word with them to tell them he wants to come to us.

"He can play higher than Conference level and perhaps even higher than Division Three.

"He's keen to come and I like to think he will, but nothing is certain until he signs on the dotted line."

Nicholls never made the first team at Ipswich, but spent almost four months on loan last season with Ryman League Premier Division club Canvey Island.

Read more about the Quakers here.