FORMER Darlington defender David McGurk has explained why he turned down the chance to become the club’s manager, saying Quakers were ‘the right club at the wrong time’.

After Martin Gray resigned to join York City in October, McGurk was interviewed for the role, one of a handful of candidates Quakers were considering.

Ultimately Tommy Wright became Quakers’ boss, leaving his position at Nuneaton Town to accept the role.

In an interview with the York Press, McGurk said: "I was offered the job at Darlington after going for an interview, but it just wasn't the right time.

"It would have been my first manager’s job and, while it would have been the right club, it felt like the wrong time.

"I've always felt that I don’t want to go into my first job during a season. I know that’s not always possible and it's hard to pick and choose, but I want to pick and choose when it's something as important as my first managerial position, because you might only get one opportunity and I’d like that to be in the summer when you can have a few months to work with your players first."

McGurk, 35, is assistant manager to Darren Kelly at Hyde United, who are among the promotion challengers in Evo-Stik League Division One North, currently in fifth place, eight points behind leaders South Shields.