THE apprentice got one over the master when Darlington lost 2-1 to Nuneaton Town on Saturday, a match that saw Tommy Wright get the better of Martin Gray.

Stood ten yards apart on the touchline in opposing dug-outs at Blackwell Meadows, the managers of the two teams first met in 2007 when Leicester-born Wright was trying to make his way in the game and joined Darlington from Barnsley.

Gray, assistant manager to Dave Penney, would go on to become influential character for Wright, who now calls Darlington his “second home” after two spells as a player with the club.

“I owe a lot to Martin,” said Wright after Saturday’s match. “A lot of my characteristics are down to his influence and I have so much time for him.

“He gave my advice as a player as well as a manager, he has so much knowledge, he is passionate and has a lot of qualities that I probably got from him.”

Gray was easily the more vocal of the managerial duo on Saturday, regularly barking instructions to his players while Wright opted for a less demonstrative approach.

“I’m reserved when things are going well, which it is at the minute,” said Wright, whose team have now win seven league and cup matches in a row.

“The boys are working hard in training, we’ve got a positive attitude in training, and they just need reminders to avoid complacency sinking in.

“I’ve got a bark and I’ll use it when I have to, but the lads are playing out of their skins for me.”

Wright, 32, retains fond memories of his time in the North-East. He scored 15 goals for Darlington in all competitions during 2007-08, the season that ended in play-off heartache, but in 2011 he was in the team that won at Wembley in the final of the FA Trophy final.

He said: “It’s great for Darlington to be back in the town. It’s what the fans wanted, they’re back home and they can build this place and make it their new home. I think of Darlington as my second home. I spent a large part of my playing career here over two spells.

“The first spell was really successful. I was gutted when I got injured in the first leg of the play-offs, and I felt that was the year we were probably expected to go up. But when you get to the second leg of the play-offs and you’ve got 11 first-team players injured and watching from the stand the writing is probably on the wall.

“I got a move to Aberdeen, it didn’t work out up there and when I came back it was frustrating because I wasn’t Mark Cooper’s cup of tea. But I forced my way in and at the end I was an FA Trophy winner. That was probably a fitting way to end it for me.

“I should’ve scored in the final though. I had a header right at the end and this still haunts me a bit. I’ve got a framed picture of that moment in my house, but I was proud of that day.

“I would loved to have scored myself, but I played a part in the winning goal and Darlington has always been my second team after Leicester City.”