Darlington midfielder Martin Gray yesterday gave fans a much-needed boost by signing a new two-year contract as new boss Gary Bennett proclaimed: "It's not all gloom".

Following David Hodgson's walkout, there were rumours that several players were following him out of the Feethams door, but Gray quashed speculation that he was heading for Hartlepool by confirming his allegiance to Quakers.

Bennett responded by giving him the team captaincy, while Neil Aspin will be club captain.

"I'm absolutely delighted about staying at Darlington," said Gray, who was signed on a free transfer from Oxford in June last year.

"I want the club to go forward, and it will also give me that bit of security which everybody needs.

"All the players have got to support Gary Bennett now, and he will have 110 per cent backing.

"We've all got to roll up our sleeves and get on with it, because the season starts next week. We've still got good players, and the chairman has stressed that new players will be coming in to make us a little bit stronger.

"David Hodgson was great towards me, and I'll always have a lot of respect for him because he brought me back to the North-East.

"But football is a cruel game, and we've all got to get on with our jobs."

Gray talked to Bennett - his old Sunderland team-mate - about the captaincy yesterday.

"I was captain when we played in the Isle of Man tournament, and Gary has asked me to continue that job. I've been captain of a team before, when I was at Oxford, and I enjoyed it."

Bennett believes that Gray will lead by example.

"Martin is committed to the club, and won't be gone tomorrow. Hopefully his qualities will rub off on the rest of the players," said the caretaker boss.

There was more welcome news when Bennett confirmed that Aspin, Craig Liddle and Andy Collett are staying. Liddle was rumoured to be on his way to Preston, and Aspin to a Second Division club. Keeper Collett was out of contract - Aspin and Liddle still have a year to go - and yesterday agreed to a new offer from the club.

Bennett had a meeting with all the players yesterday morning, and said that it had been "very positive".

"It's not all turmoil and gloom," he said. "We all had a good chat, and a lot of positive things came out of the meeting.

"I think everybody was relieved to see people smiling again. I told the players what I want, and some of them came back with a few ideas. I want a good working relationship with them, and I've told them that I need a response now from them all.

"Both Neil and Craig have said that they're stopping at the club. Neil has offered to help out with the reserves because he sees his future at the club, and it's an opportunity for him. We have told him he can do it as long as it doesn't interfere with his first team duties."

Bennett also completed the signing of Mark Angel on a free transfer yesterday after the former Sunderland player was freed in the summer by West Brom. "Mark has got plenty of ability, and he can supply some good crosses," said Bennett.

"We're also hoping to sign Richard Hodgson and maybe a couple more before the start of the season."

One of his priorities is likely to be cover for Collett, who is the only senior keeper on the books.

The swift appointment of Bennett hasn't stopped the rumour machine, with Archie Gemmill, Peter Jackson, David Armstrong, Lennie Lawrence and Chris Kamara all linked with the manager's job.

But Bennett will be in charge for the foreseeable future, and today will make preparations for the four team tournament at his old club Scarborough, where Quakers face Dutch club Siol at noon tomorrow.

"I've always wanted to be a manager," said Bennett, who took the reserves to promotion and the Durham Challenge Cup last season.

"But I didn't expect it under these circumstances.

"The situation came completely out of the blue. Hopefully now we'll get some stability."

Bennett also got full backing from Hodgson, who is celebrating his 40th birthday this weekend with a family holiday.

"I hope Gary can achieve everything which I was trying to achieve," he said. "I also pray that the fans have what they want, and that is a team in the Second Division.