Darlington Football Club was plunged into crisis yesterday when manager David Hodgson quit ten days before the start of the season.

Hodgson resigned yesterday morning at a meeting of the team and players, which was called by multi-millionaire chairman George Reynolds.

And Hodgson's assistant, Ian Butterworth, followed him out of the door in the afternoon after also tendering his resignation.

Hodgson admitted that he is "mentally tired" and felt that it was right to clear his desk. Only a year ago, he said that the only way he would leave Darlington "would be in a box".

"For the first time ever, I have put myself before the football club," he said yesterday.

"It wasn't a difficult decision, but an horrendous decision. For a few days I have had a feeling in my stomach."

Hodgson admitted he was putting his wife and family first, though he refused to criticise George Reynolds.

"Me and Darlington Football Club have been like a marriage. It started well, but sooner or later you find that it doesn't work out.

"A year ago, the chairman was the saviour of the football club, and without him it wouldn't be in existence now and we wouldn't have got to Wembley.

"I'm not holding any grudges against him. The chairman said that I would never be sacked, but one of us had to give in the end - and unfortunately it was me."

The club's response was to appoint Gary Bennett - who was previously youth team coach - as caretaker manager, and fellow coach Jim Montgomery as his assistant.

Darlington FC's public relations director, Luke Raine, said that Hodgson's resignation came as a big surprise.

Darlington, who take on Rochdale in the first game of the season, have been rocked by some high-profile departures since their Wembley play-off defeat in May, losing top striker Marco Gabbiadini and midfielder Neil Heaney.

There is also speculation other players could leave before the start of the season