Darlington management pair Gary Bennett and Mick Tait look likely to accept new deals.

Chairman George Reynolds revealed yesterday that he has offered the pair new three-year contracts.

Bennett said: "We've spoken to the chairman about stopping beyond the end of the season.

"I've been working without a contract, and it will give me a settled mind."

Reynolds believes that Bennett and Tait are doing well, and said: "I'm sure that they'll do a very good job next season, and we'll have difficulty hanging on to them.

"Gary and Mick are gelling well, and I honestly believe that when they get us promoted, there'll be a lot of clubs wanting to speak to them."

Bennett took over the hot-seat just before the start of the season, while his assistant Tait arrived in mid-February.

Meanwhile, former Darlington skipper Kevan Smith knows there'll be no room for sentiment once the first whistle blows tomorrow.

Smith, who played for ten years in two spells at Feethams, returns alongside former Darlington boss Brian Little with Hull City.

They can expect a warm welcome from the fans, who will remember the exploits under Smith and Little in the Conference and the old Fourth Division ten years ago.

"We need the points, and so do Darlington to make sure that they're safe," said Smith.

"We know that the players who were with us at Hull earlier in the season, as well as Gary Bennett and Mick Tait, will be trying to put one over on us.

"Over the last few weeks, nobody had mentioned the play-offs until we won at Hartlepool last weekend.

But we believe that we're good enough to get one of the places. There are eight teams going for four places, and we aim to be one of them.

"I've watched Darlington three times in recent weeks, and they've improved every time I've seen them. We know that we'll be in for a tough game.

"But we're amazed that we've got a chance of the play-offs after all the trouble we've had this season. It says a lot for the staff and the playing squad."