Liddle frustrated in search for a forward (From The Northern Echo)

Liddle frustrated in search for a forward

8:00am Friday 3rd February 2012 in Darlington FC News By Craig Stoddart, Deputy Sports Editor

Darlington have been frustrated in their efforts to take one of their former forwards back to the club.

Interim manager Craig Liddle is still hopeful of re-signing the striker, who went on to play at a higher level after leaving The Northern Echo Arena, but his return depends entirely on finance.

Another former player, midfielder Clark Keltie, returned this week and will play at Mansfield Town tomorrow, while Liddle was yesterday hoping to bring another ex-Quaker back to the Arena.

But he has been prevented from signing the striker while he has also missed out on an experienced defender.

Liddle said: "Clark and Liam (Bagnall) are both available to play and we tried to get another two in but for one reason or another we haven't been successful.

"I wanted another forward and another defender. Obviously the lads we've got have been smashing, but I'm wanting cover in parts of the pitch.

"We had another one lined up but we haven't got the finances to do it. Conference permitting, I'd like to bring another player in if the funds are available."

Missing out on the targets means Liddle has little option other than to continue using Ryan Bowman as a lone striker as he is the only forward at the club.

He would prefer to field teenager Scott Harrison as a target-man in attack, but he is needed in defence to cover for Graeme Lee who has a knee injury.

Youth team player Chris Dickinson is an option, but Liddle does not believe the teenager is ready to be thrown in at the deep end.

"At one stage last Saturday against York I wanted to switch to 4-4-2, but I haven't got another forward in the football club,'' he admitted.

"There's young Chris Dickinson who has scored goals in the youth team, but he's 16 and even though he'd love to have a go it's a different game altogether playing against 16-year-olds compared to senior pros.

"He's physically nowhere near yet, but he has got a bright future."

The forward target, whose identity Liddle would prefer to keep under wraps, is currently a free agent so available to play at Field Mill - finances permitting.

"I thought he would've been ideal because we've got nobody with strength or height up front," added Liddle.

"We were looking at one forward last week but lost out on him, then I wanted to get this other one in but we've been knocked back.

"We've been told that if can't pay our own players how an we afford to play someone else.

"So we could possibly bring another in, but there's no money to pay wages. We need a knight in shining armour to come in and offer to pay his wages."

Meanwhile, in an attempt to play down any suggestions among the Stags camp that Liddle is relying on teenagers to field a team, Mansfield boss Paul Cox has warned his players that Quakers have a strong first XI.

Last Saturday's team included five teenagers, including three - Dale Hopson, Scott Harrison and Rob Ramshaw, who was making his full debut - that were youth team regulars earlier this season. A sixth teenager entered the fray when Phil Gray was sent on as a first-half substitute.

But Cox said: "Although they have a bench of youngsters, the first XI last week included nine good first-team players and they have brought in a couple of new signings this week in Clark Keltie and Liam Bagnall.

"If my players think Darlington are just bringing youngsters and it will be an easy game, our mindset will be wrong.

"Make no mistake, it will be a tough game and we will have to earn the right.

"I know roughly what we will be up against."