Todd making good progress at Darlington (From The Northern Echo)

Todd making good progress at Darlington

10:26am Wednesday 24th June 2009 in

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COLIN TODD feels he is making good progress as guides crisis-hit Darlington through a traumatic summer.

While attempting to attract players to The Northern Echo Darlington Arena, the Quakers manager has seen a raft of last season’s squad leave.

The exodus continued yesterday with Robin Hulbert joining Barrow while Franz Burgmeier has returned to Liechtenstein, signing for former club FC Vaduz.

Pawel Abbott has not signed for a new club yet but he too has played his last game for Quakers as has Gregg Blundell.

But Todd has convinced Steve Foster and Ian Miller to stay and he has also persuaded Dean Windass to come in as assistant coach/player while he has lined up several other new recruits.

Contracts cannot be signed until the club emerges from administration so potential new players could be poached by rival clubs.

But Todd is pleased with his work so far and he said: “No players can sign yet, it’s all done on verbal agreements which is just how it was when I was at Bradford.

People have to trust each other.

“We’re signing North-East lads who have played for other clubs higher up the league, have been released because they’ve been on decent money and want to get back to the region.

“What I inherited here was a system of money based on appearances, relocation money and agents fees which has all been stopped. So in that respect we have done well.”

Former Carlislre midfielders Chris Lumsdon and Jeff Smith are among those Todd has lined up for Quakers who begin pre-season training on Thursday, July 2 at their new base at Aykley Heads in Durham.

Back among the ranks are physio Will Short and Andrew Thompson who Todd has reappointed. Both were dismissed by administrators at the end of the season.

Todd added: “There was a hell of a lot to do when I started and it’s been very hectic since I got back from my holiday but the good thing is that we’re getting there.

“I’ve had to cut the cloth accordingly but the skipper, Foster, is on board now. He had a year to run on his contract anyway but there was a little bit of work to do with him, and Miller is on board too.”