Darlington FC-Preview to the new season (From The Northern Echo)

Darlington FC-Preview to the new season

7:38pm Friday 31st July 2009

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Pre-season for Darlington began with uncertainty casting a shadow over the club. Darlington FC was stuck in administration, had no manager and a mass exodus of players imminent. To make it through the summer, the administrators had to make the majority of the staff at the club redundant. There were doubts as to whether Darlington FC would even be able to start the new season. Then, owner George Houghton began proceedings to take the club out of administration. He agreed a deal to sell Darlington FC to former vice-chairman Raj Singh, whose 2 previous attempts to takeover the stricken club had failed to come to fruition. He will complete his takeover as soon as the club emerges from administration. This will get rid of the administrators, who at times have seen more interested in lining their own wallets rather than actually help the football club survive, and whose lack of communication has infuriated fans, players and club staff.

Another move Houghton made was to appoint Colin Todd as manager. Todd has experience of managing clubs who have struggled financially, as he was in charge of Bradford City when they were in a similar position several years ago. Todd’s main task over the summer was to rebuild the squad. Only captain Steve Foster and fellow defender Ian Miller are the only remaining players from last season’s squad, while a quintet of young players have been promoted to the senior squad. Young striker Curtis Main, who had a trial at Fulham earlier on in the summer, is one of those, as is keeper Nick Liversedge. Midfielders Dan Groves and Dan Riley are also in the senior squad, along with Josh Gray, who has played with the 1st team on a number of occasions.

On a restricted budget, Todd had to shop around for new players to add to the 7 he already had. The biggest name of the new signings is that of Dean Windass, who will have a dual role at the club. Not only will he be a striker for the team, Windass will also be Todd’s assistant manager. The only other striker in the squad is journeyman Lee Thorpe, who makes Darlington his 11th club. Carlisle midfielders Chris Lumsdon and Jeff Smith have joined, along with former Brentford midfielder Gary Smith. Midfielder James Bennett and defender Matt Plummer have arrived after being released by Hull. Goalkeeper David Knight has agreed to join the Quakers, as have full backs Paul Arnison and Mark Bower. None of these players have signed for Darlo just yet; they aren’t allowed to sign contracts with the club until it is out of administration. 2 other players, Ben Starosta and Craig James ad also agreed to play for Darlington. However, both struggled during pre-season and neither of them will be offered contracts. A number of trialists also have been playing with Darlo over pre-season in a bid to earn a contract at the Arena, whilst Todd hopes that the North East’s big 3 clubs, Sunderland, Middlesbrough and Newcastle will let some youngsters join Darlington on loan.

With the majority of his squad assembled, Colin Todd arranged a number of friendlies to build up match fitness in preparation for the new season, most notably, home fixtures against the North East’s big 3 clubs. . To start with though, Darlington took on non-league opposition, beating Billingham Town 3-0, and then Blyth Spartans 2-1. However, fortunes changed when Darlo took on Sunderland as they were soundly beaten 4-0. The result was worse in the game against Newcastle, as the Quakers were thrashed 7-2. After conceding 11 goals in 2 matches, the next friendly, at home to Scottish Premier League side Hamilton, yielded a clean sheet as the match finished 0-0. An injury crisis meant that Darlington’s penultimate friendly, at home to Middlesbrough had to be cancelled, meaning the trip to Bradford Park Avenue is the last chance for Darlington’s new look squad to get in some match practice before the season starts.

By the time Darlington take on Aldershot away in the 1st game of the season, some new players could have been added to Darlington’s small squad of only 17 players. New additions are needed, or Darlington will be particularly susceptible to an injury crisis. Todd says most of his budget has been used up, meaning any new signings are likely to be loan players. With Raj Singh’s takeover imminent, a new era beckons for Darlington. What is needed now is a period of calm and stability, to allow the club to get back on its feet. This season is more of a transition season, with a new regime taking over. Promotion this season is unlikely, but not out of the question. Darlington fans are just relieved that there is a club to support this season.

My verdict: Darlington will finish in mid-table

By Chris Sykes

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