Kick-Off: Gray has moved on from Darlington's play-off frustration

Missing out on the play-offs hurt all concerned with Quakers, particularly Martin Gray. The team had achieved the objective of a top-five finish, but the players, fans and the management were let down by their directors, who did not know until too late they needed another 250 covered seats at Blackwell Meadows. The situation got messier still.

Weeks later at a fans’ forum came Gray’s dramatic plea to accept external investment in the supporter-owned club – “trust me,” he said – a bold move and not one welcomed by all, partly as it was done without the directors’ approval, though in light of the seats farce he had not felt obliged to consider their feelings.

The investment disappeared when Teesside businessman Raj Singh changed his mind in the face of online outrage, the consequence being huge concerns for Gray’s future, ditto members of his squad.

He had been hurt by the play-off cock-up, he is a proud man with much to be proud of.

Gray started from scratch when he took on the role as Darlington manager in 2012, hauling Quakers through the divisions with three promotions in his first four seasons, and it might well have become four in five.

Missing out in such circumstances will rankle for a long time – Quakers took four points from both play-off finalists Halifax and Chorley – but knows dwelling on the past achieves little.

Bruised but unbowed, Gray is now looking ahead.

“You can either feel sorry for yourself, or you can move on and look at what needs to be done to move forward. That’s been our mentality,” says Gray, when asked how close he came to quitting.

“It’s not in me (to walk away). We want to go on and finish the journey off.

“We started five years ago, and now it’s about off the pitch too, making sure we have the right tools to go again.

“It’s been the best time in my career, being at this football club. I’m always proud when I stand on the sideline as manager to manage the team, and one thing the players do understand is that standards will be as high as ever.

“I’ll never change the way I am for anybody. I’ve got my style, I’ve got my way and whether it’s Bishop Auckland in a friendly or Salford on the first day of the season, we have to have the right mentality.”

Having the right mentality is among his mantras, never looking further than the next game is another, and also familiar is a ruthless streak to squad strengthening.

There is no room for sentiment, no matter what individuals have previously contributed, which is why Gray has had no qualms in recruiting players to continue Quakers’ improvement.

In the past year Adam Bartlett, Liam Marrs, David Ferguson, Dave Syers and Mark Beck have joined from a higher level, while this summer Dom Collins and James Caton have strengthened the squad, and other arrivals are pending at the time of writing.

Arguably the best signings, however, have been Beck and Phil Turnbull, key players both signing new contracts.

Gray said: “You can’t be sentimental. You’ve got to keep focused on the next step, you can never be happy with what you’ve got. We strive to be better on and off the pitch.

“I’m so proud of the players we’ve had since day one, and they have always known how I work. Players here always know that if they continue to impress and improve then they’ll stay with us.

“The players that have come and gone in the five years have played a massive part and we wouldn’t be here without them. But we’re not here to make friends, we’re here to make big decisions and get the right results.”

For instance, six of the 14 who played during the magnificent title-winning night at Whitby Town 16 months ago have since moved on, plus Peter Jameson is no longer No. 1.

“We’ve had to keep improving. No matter what level you’re playing at, you’ve got to keep trying to improve your squad,” says Gray.

“We’ve done that sensibly, within a budget, at a really competitive level.

“It’s becomes more difficult, we’re looking further afield now, but that’s what happens in football, you’ve got to look elsewhere.

“You’ve got to look outside your own area because there’s so many teams up here of a similar level to us.

“We are making progress, but there’s still a lot of work to do.

“I hope we’re stronger than we were 12 months ago. We’ve kept everybody apart from Josh Falkingham, and the players we’ve brought in have added competition to different positions, which was really important.”

Leeds-based Falkingham has gone to Harrogate Town, who turned full-time in the summer, as have Salford, the latter being the bookies’ title favourites.

York City and Spennymoor Town have justifiable hopes of a top-seven finish, two clubs who add a North-East flavour to the division, as does Blyth Spartans’ promotion.

“It’s going to be a really strong and competitive division,” added Gray. “There’s now derby games to play, which bring their own pressure, a different mentality, and there’s some good teams.

“Salford, Chorley, Stockport, Kidderminster and Boston, you could go on and on. It’s a very strong league, people who know the division better than me say it’s the strongest it’s ever been.

“I’m not that bothered about anybody else, it’s about us. That’s all I focus on. What we’re here to do is make sure we’re challenging throughout the season.”