Quakers’ haste unlikely to tempt Speed (From The Northern Echo)

Quakers’ haste unlikely to tempt Speed

9:35am Monday 22nd March 2010 in

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Darlington are looking to make a swift appointment after dispensing with the services of Steve Staunton yesterday.

Chairman Raj Singh made the Irishman his second managerial casualty this season, after Colin Todd was axed in September, explaining that Saturday’s home defeat to Barnet was the final straw.

In front of their lowest Football League attendance for 17 years Darlington, marooned at the bottom of League Two, lost 2-1. They are 19 points from safety with 12 games to play, so it is only a matter of time before relegation is confirmed.

To give Staunton’s successor as much chance as possible to prepare for next season in the Blue Square Premier, Singh intends to hand the managerial reins to a new boss in good time before the end of the season.

Six months ago Singh made an ambitious play for former Sheffield United assistant manager Gary Speed, but with Darlington heading out of the Football League the Welshman is unlikely to be swayed.

Names in the frame are similar to when Todd was sacked with Darlington legend Kevan Smith again very interested in taking the hot seat.

The former Quakers captain, winner of promotion three times with the club and a veteran of well over 400 games, was interviewed by Singh six months ago and believed he had a good chance of succeeding Todd.

In a move that would please some supporters, Smith would like to bring in former Darlington manager Brian Little in some capacity.

Little was in charge and Smith was captain when Quakers won the GM Vauxhall Conference title in 1990 and the Division Four championship 12 months later.

When Todd left, ex-Middlesbrough pair Craig Hignett and Gary Pallister informed Singh of their interest in the job and they are again keen to get on the managerial ladder.

Former Sunderland boss and Middlesbrough coach Malcolm Crosby interests the chairman, but he is no longer a free agent having taken up a backroom role at Northampton.

If Singh opted for a manager with experience of the BSP, he could look towards Gary Brabin or Mark Cooper.

Both have achieved a level of success outside the Football League, with Cambridge and Kettering respectively, and neither is employed.

But for the time being head of youth Craig Liddle takes temporary charge.

He and centre of excellence manager Neil Maddison will pick the team for tomorrow evening’s home game with Aldershot Town in what represents the pair’s second stint at the helm this season.

They were in caretaker charge for three games when Todd was axed after failing to win any of the first nine matches of the season.

Todd drew two and lost seven – the same record that ended Staunton’s reign.

Only 1,463 were in attendance on Saturday, and Singh said that was a factor in Staunton’s exit.

He explained: “It is with regret that we are having to part company with another manager during what’s been a forgetful season for us, but we felt we were left with no alternative after yesterday.

“The most disappointing side to Saturday was the attendance – a record low crowd told us a lot. We desperately wanted things to work out but it clearly wasn’t to be.”

No statement has been made on the future of coach Kevin Richardson.

Staunton took charge of 23 league games, losing 17 and winning just four after being appointed in October, but the signs were ominous from the off.

His first signing, Noel Whelan, limped off after 34 minutes of his first game, the 2-0 defeat at Dagenham & Redbridge, and Quakers’ plight only ever marginally improved.

Ironically, Whelan’s second start for the club came on Saturday in what proved to be the final game of Staunton’s stay.

It was a reign which can be described as little other than disastrous.