IAN WATSON has spoken of his frustration at reluctantly having to leave Darlington, saying he would have chosen to stay for another “three or four years”, but losing his place in the team has forced him to look elsewhere.

The left-back has already been the subject of tentative interest since it was announced this morning that he is available for transfer after he and manager Martin Gray came to a mutual decision on his future.

The popular attack-minded defender was an unused substitute during Darlington’s draw at Skelmersdale United on Tuesday, the third game in a row that the former Blyth Spartans full-back has not been on the pitch having lost his place to Terry Galbraith.

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An injury to Galbraith saw Watson given six games earlier in the campaign, but Gray has made it clear who his first-choice left-back is.

“I’m gutted. I don’t want to leave, I love it there and I love all the lads and the fans,” said Watson. “But I’m 29, I’m in my peak years, but I’ve sat and watched the last three games. And it’s not like we’re playing unbelievable well, so it’s frustrating from my point of view.

“I said to Martin that I wasn’t happy at not playing and he didn’t want to hold me back and couldn’t guarantee that I would play, so it was probably for the best that I move.

“I spoke to Brian Atkinson about it on the bus on the way home on Tuesday. I’d told Sean Gregan on the way out of the ground I don’t know how long I can keep doing this for when I’ve not played. I didn’t get home until 2am and I was up at 5am for work.

“Then Martin rang me this morning and said he understood my frustration and where I was coming from. He said ‘I’m playing Tez in there at the minute so if you want to leave I won’t hold you back’.

“But when there’s been three games and you haven’t had a second on the pitch it’s a decision that makes itself, as hard as it is to leave. It’s a wrench to leave, but it’s purely down to the fact I’ve not been playing, it’s taken the decision out of my hands.”

Watson signed for Darlington in September 2014 after impressing when playing against them for Blyth in an FA Cup tie and he quickly became a first-choice and fans favourite.

However, he lost his place toward the end of the season to Galbraith, who remained Gray’s preferred option at the beginning of the season.

After Galbraith suffered an injury in the fourth game of the campaign, Watson was recalled and had a hand in goals scored against Blyth and Colwyn Bay. But following back-to-back defeats Hyde United Gray recalled the fit-again Galbraith.

“At the start of the season I spoke to Martin and I thought that that if I did get my chance and played well I’d keep the shirt,” said Watson. “I did get my chance and I did play well, but I didn’t keep the shirt. You can’t knock Martin, he’s won two promotions in three seasons and he’s the best manager I’ve ever played for.

“It’s just opinions and he prefers somebody else to me. It’s his football opinion and I’m not going to get too down about it, I’m just going to move on.”

Watson was eager to place on his record his thanks to the Darlington supporters, with whom he quickly built a relationship and many are annoyed to see him leave.

“I’d like to have played the next three or four years at Darlo, so I’m gutted that I have to leave,” he added.

“I want to thank everyone at the club a massive thanks to the fans for making me so welcome, I’ve loved every minute.”

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