QUAKERS' chairman George Reynolds this week defied the views of the Feethams faithful by giving under-fire manager Gary Bennett a ringing vote of confidence.

As Bennett's team ended their miserable season in 20th place in the Nationwide Third Division - remember, they were the bookies' favourites for promotion at the start - a sizeable proportion of the last-day crowd called for Bennett's head.

The 3-1 home defeat by Blackpool propelled the Tangerines into a play-off spot and was Quakers' sixth defeat in a row, their worst run of the season.

Reynolds - while claiming his manager was in tears on Saturday night - insisted Bennett had done a "fantastic" job in his first year in charge, citing the loss of key players through transfer and injury as the key factor in the club's slump.

But most of the departures - Marco Gabbaidini, Neil Aspin, Neil Heaney and others - were pushed through by Reynolds to cut the Feethams wage bill.

The club's retained list will make interesting reading, as so many mediocre players have since been signed on long contracts as crisis followed crisis this season.

Fans will be watching anxiously to see what happens to the club's two prize assets - defender Craig Liddle and goalkeeper Andy Collett.

On Saturday, Blackpool took an early lead when Brett Ormerod scored with a near-post header.

Quakers' top scorer Glenn Naylor hit the post with a well-worked free-kick before an unexpected equaliser arrived just after the interval, John Williams netting after a goalmouth scramble.

But Blackpool quickly moved up a gear. Daniel Shittu's powerful header beat Collett's attempt to save, then Richie Wellens scored after waltzing through a statuesque Darlington defence.