Darlington's new manager will be Craig Liddle according to bookmakers who yesterday suspended betting on who will succeed Mark Cooper.

After receiving substantial backing for Quakers' head of youth, Stan James took action and closed the book despite Darlington previously stating they do not expect to make an announcement before the weekend.

Darlington chairman Raj Singh and managing director have received a raft of applications and have said they aim to make an appointment before AFC Telford visit the North-East a week tomorrow.

But Stan James, the only bookmaker running offering odds on Quakers' next boss, stopped taking money after a number of punters in the West Yorkshire area backed Liddle.

He has been in caretaker charge since Cooper and assistant Richard Dryden left the club on Monday, overseeing training ahead of this weekend's FA Cup tie.

He will be in the dug-out tomorrow, when Conference North club Hinckley United visit The Northern Echo Arena for a fourth qualifying round tie.

Liddle's spell in charge represents a third stint as caretaker manager and, unlike on previous occasions when there has been a vacancy, he is yet to rule himself out of contention while Singh thinks highly of the 40-year-old.

Singh backed Liddle yesterday, pointing out: "Craig has done more for this club in the past few years than any manager given the players he's produced and some of the transfer fees our homegrown payers have produced."

Although Liddle is the front-runner, Colin Cooper, Craig Hignett, Steve Agnew and Ian Sampson remain in the frame.

Former Darlington captain Kevan Smith would like the job and he has made his case clear last night.

The club have won promotion only five times and Smith played in three of those seasons during the mid-1980s and early 90s.

"I've nearly had the job before, but it's only Sir Alex Ferguson cutting in [to recommend someone] that cost me," said Smith, speaking on BBC Tees.

"There aren't many players that have done as much as I've done for a single club in terms or promotions.

"I've been offered coaching jobs at the club down the years, but they've never materialised for one reason or another.

"I'm well equipped to take the job, I've got a knowledge of players in the league and friends and contacts in the game higher than Conference level. But it's a decision for other people to make."

While Liddle looks after first-team affairs, captain Ian Miller, who is still recovering from a hernia operation, will be in charge of the youthful Darlington side that plays at Stockton Town in the Durham Challenge Cup.

Though Quakers may use any senior pros not required for the FA Cup tie, Liddle will be without Halifax-born Chris Atkinson as Huddersfield do not want the on-loan midfielder to become cup-tied.