GET today’s match out of the way and Darlington can begin to concentrate on next season and summer signings, though Tommy Wright says he has had plans in mind for months.

Quakers conclude the campaign at Stockport County, who will be in the play-offs, and Darlington hope to do likewise next year having fallen short this time.

Quakers are 12th, they can finish as high as 11th and as low as 14th, but a top-seven finish was not in Wright’s remit when he replaced Martin Gray in October, though he did say at the time of his appointment it was his aim.

After a poor start to his tenure – one win in 12 – an upturn in results saw Darlington rise to mid-table mediocrity and a brief flirtation with the play-offs, which will be next season’s ambition.

Achieving that aim will require some summer strengthening, though Wright revealed there will be more exits than entrances at Blackwell Meadows.

“I’ve had plans since December,” he said. “I think pretty much the same now where we need to strengthen, and now it’s about balancing the books and moving a few on to allow that to happen.

“It’s been well publicised that the budget has been cut. Contracts are up, but there are still contracted players at the club who are probably going to be deemed surplus to requirements who I am going to have to shift.

“I’m not going to keep lads in limbo; players will know where they stand with me and a lot already do.

“The squad’s too big and that’s something I’ve got to address. It’s about getting the balance right with the experience as well as the assets coming through.”

Darlington have relied on Reece Styche, scorer of 13 goals in 20 appearances, for firepower, so another striker is a must, as is a goalkeeper.

Since Adam Bartlett followed Gray to York, Quakers have relied on loan goalkeepers, with Middlesbrough’s Aynsley Pears performing very well during his temporary spell.

Wright added: “I probably need to add two, but I don’t really know what the budget is at the minute – the fans have been working really hard with the Boost the Budget scheme – so that is going to hold me up a little.

“I want a striker, that’s no secret, and there are three or four names in my head I feel I have a good chance with. We’ll get the one that fits what we want, because we do need a goalscorer.

“My phone is going to be busy and I want it to be. I think I know where we’re a bit light and where I want to improve.

“In the summer I want to get people excited to come back and watch us in July.

“There are managers who want our players and I want some of their players too. There are no secrets, everybody knows who I rate and there’ll be rumours going round all summer.

“If I’ve got a target I like to get what I want and I’ve always had that mentality – I want players who want to play for me and if they don’t I move them on quickly.

“I don’t want things dwelling all summer, I want a quick decision, yes or no.”

Wright’s men need to be better at the back today than they were on Wednesday at home to Southport, who won 4-2 after capitalising on slack defending.

Wright said: “I thought we started well and I heard a comment from behind the dug-out, someone asking why we didn’t play like that on Saturday, when we drew 0-0 with Nuneaton – I thought we were actually better on Saturday in terms of possession and chances created.

“But on Wednesday we forgot how to defend. We let some sloppy goals in.

“They had Ross Hannah, a proven Football League scorer, and Phil Gilchrist, who they paid a lot of money for from FC United. If you give them chances you’ll be punished. They were electric and they pounced on our errors.”

Terry Galbraith suffered an ankle injury, and Luke Trotman was replaced after an hour. At half-time Wright sent on Jack Vaulks, and the youngster could start today.

He added: “Terry and Josh Heaton have formed a great partnership. Dom Collins is more experienced but he is on the sidelines, Gary Brown is around and Jack started two games a month ago, but he looked a bit rusty.

“He’s going to make mistakes, he’s young, it’s about how he reacts and learns.

“The idea was to play Jack on Saturday, so we wanted to integrate him into the squad on Wednesday. Two or three of the younger lads will get a good run-out.”