DARLINGTON’S state of flux without a manager is finally over, and temporary boss Phil Turnbull is as relieved as anyone.

Last night’s appointment of Tommy Wright as manager means that Turnbull and Gary Brown will pick the team today for the third and final time when Quakers host Bradford Park Avenue.

Their previous two matches at helm have been a 1-1 draw with Stockport County followed by a 2-1 loss at Nuneaton Town, ironically Wright’s final match in charge of the Warwickshire club.

Speaking before Wright’s arrival, Turnbull said: “We need someone to come in, we need direction, there’s no two ways about it.

“Are we getting maximum out of the players? Yes, because there’s respect there. If it was one of the other lads in charge they would have mine and Browny’s respect too.

“There’ll always be that maximum effort and a good attitude, we cannot fault the lads there, but me and Browny are only in temporary charge so it’s difficult to work on things like shape.

“We have done a bit of that, but we’re filling a gap at the minute to take us into a new direction and have their philosophy so we can work on things.

“But in terms of application and attitude everything has been spot on.”

At 30-years-old Turnbull is the same age Wright was when Darlington’s new boss took his first steps in management three years ago at Corby, and one half of Quakers caretaker duo admits he might have fancied a crack at the job permanently had he not still years of playing ahead of him.

“I have thoroughly enjoyed it. If I was a little bit older I would’ve put my name in the hat,” said Turnbull.

“If I was given a budget and be able to look at bringing players in, it would be an attractive job because everything is there.

“The club is massive, everyone knows that, the fans every week are brilliant, and the nucleus of the squad is there, there’s just a bit of a cutting edge missing at the minute.

“It’s one of the best jobs out there, it’s the biggest part-time job out there in the north of England.”

He added: “It’s been effortless for us. There’s a good maturity in the squad, they’re mainly 25 or 26-year-old, so they know what’s expected of them, they’re know they’re here to represent the club still whether they’ve got a manager or not.

“They know wouldn’t get away with anything – there’s a big crowd there every week and none of them are conmen, there’s no cowboys among them.”

James Caton is available for selection again after missing three matches with a groin strain, and is likely to be on the bench, replacing Adam Dawson who has returned to Tranmere Rovers following the conclusion of his loan spell.

Referring to Caton, Turnbull said: “We need the energy and pace that he’s got, but physically he’s not quite there at the minute.”

Brown trained successfully on Thursday evening and could even play for the first time since a concussion related lay-off.

Turnbull added: “He looked sharp and you know what you’re getting from Browny, so I’d like to put him in the team week in, week out.

“But it’s a case of speaking to the physio first to see if he can play.”

Bradford PA are tenth, two places and one point above Darlington, having lost two and drawn two of their last four games.

They are managed by Mark Bower, a defender in his playing days who had a brief spell with Darlington in 2009-10.