DARLINGTON have been dealt a blow with Craig Gott handing in a transfer request.

The midfielder's work commitments mean he is unable to commit to the travel involved in Quakers' away fixtures in the Evo-Stik First Division North.

So Manger Martin Gray has reluctantly accepted Gott's request to leave, but admits he will be disappointed to see him go.

"It's his choice, he just can't commit because of his work commitments," said Gray. "He has a job on the docks on Teesside, it's night shift, and it means he can't really commit to the travel and unfortunately that's not really good for this club going forward.

"He's a good footballer, but this is the situation we're in.

"The job has got to be your priority because that pays the mortgage. Football is just a hobby for them because they're not full-time."

Gott, 23, joined Darlington from Billingham Synthonia in September last year and became an integral part of the team that won the Northern League title.

This season he has mainly been used as a substitute, including in the weekend's dramatic 3-2 at Clitheroe.

Quakers will be entitled to a small fee for Gott and Gray does not expect to be short of admirers for the player so he could have departed by the time Mossley visit Heritage Park on Saturday.

Darlington were due to play Racliffe Borough on Wednesday evening, but the match was postponed last week because of Radcliffe's involvement in the Manchester Senior Cup.

Meanwhile, former Middlesbrough defender Bruno Pilatos is currently on trial with Quakers.