ALAN WHITE admits he is disappointed to leave Darlington, but says there are no hard feelings as he prepares for a new beginning with Spennymoor Town.

The veteran defender is moving to the Brewery Field after accepting a role as a first-team coach in Jason Ainsley’s backroom staff, although he will be registered as a player, if required.

Such a role would have suited the 40-year-old with Darlington, his hometown club with which he had three spells and made 201 appearances.

But Quakers boss Martin Gray, who already has Brian Atkinson and Sean Gregan by his side as assistant manager and coach respectively, was not able to offer White what he wanted.

A role with the youth team was a possibility, but instead White has become the latest former Darlington player to head for the Brewery Field, where Graeme Armstrong last week joined fellow former Quakers Ian Watson and David Dowson.

Leaving Quakers brings to an end White’s third spell with the club, having first joined in 2007, and he said: “These last few years since I came back to Darlington have been great, I’ve loved it.

“I was playing regularly in the first year but we missed out on the play-offs. The second year we had that great promotion, then last season we got promoted again. I didn’t play so much but I was on the coaching side and was thinking I was making that transition, I thought it would be great if I could stay with the club even if I wasn’t playing so much.

“I was hoping that would be there for me, but unfortunately there’s not been an offer, which is disappointing. I’ve loved every minute of being at the club, it’s my hometown and it’s where I wanted to stay.

“But I want to be involved in first-team football, I want to be with the lads and still think I can play, maybe not regularly but as a squad member. I think I’ve got something to offer.”

White’s days as a regular in Gray’s team came to an end following two red cards during the first half of last season, which is when the manager asked him to focus on off-the-field responsibilities.

“I would watch the first half of matches in the stand, where you get a better view, make some notes and at half-time tell Martin what I’ve seen,” said White.

“Then, in the second half, I’d be on the bench offering my opinion, about substitutions. Martin’s his own man, but it was great to be involved in that side of things.

“Sometimes I’d have a words with the defenders or the goalkeeper, a little in their ear about something I’ve seen on the pitch. I used to love doing that but these things happen in football.

“I understand Martin’s situation; he’s got Brian and Gregan, plus Martin coaches as well. It would be unheard of to have another coach so I understand why there’s not been an offer, but that doesn’t mean it’s not disappointing to leave a club that I support and love. There’s no hard feelings, me and Martin are still friends.

“Now I’m looking forward to the challenge at Spennymoor, which should be great.”

White will work alongside former Hartlepool United midfielder Tommy Miller, who has been appointed as Ainsley’s assistant as Spennymoor aim to make it back-to-back promotions next season from the Northern Premier Division.

Spennymoor’s manager met with White on Tuesday evening to discuss the former Darlington defender’s new role.

“When Tommy and I met Alan it was evident that he was very enthusiastic and keen to join the club and work alongside us both,” said Ainsley.

“Alan will be heavily involved with Tommy during pre-season utilising his strengths in conditioning and working on players’ fitness levels.

“I feel that Alan will complement both myself and Tommy and be a fantastic addition to the management team.”