Rundle: I want to stay at Darlington (From The Northern Echo)

Rundle: I want to stay at Darlington

8:00am Monday 6th February 2012 in Darlington FC News By Craig Stoddart, Deputy Sports Editor

Adam Rundle has revealed that he has turned down opportunities to leave Darlington for the second time in his career as he wishes to "see it through".

Like many of his team-mates during the financial crisis, Rundle has had the chance to sign a contract elsewhere.

Former colleagues such as Sam Russell, Ian Miller, Jamie Chandler, Liam Hatch, Adam Quinn and Greg Taylor are all now elsewhere in the Blue Square Bet Premier.

But South Shields-born Rundle has eschewed the opportunity to move on from the club where he began his career - albeit at Feethams - and returned to last summer.

Though he admits to having sought assurances that Quakers' financial situation was secure before signing from Morecambe.

He said: "I think the first thing that players ask about when they sign is the club's financial situation, because Darlington had been in administration twice previously. I asked and I think a few of the lads did.

"The chairman, Raj Singh, had a bit of money, a player had been sold [Dan Burn] and there'd been the FA Trophy run, so everything looked sound financially, so that's why lads signed. But things didn't go right on the field and they took a turn for the worse off the field too.

"As soon as the club went into administration I had a few calls from clubs trying to tempt me away.

"I've had a Football League club on the phone and quite a number of Conference clubs. With us doing well over the last couple of months and having played against a few clubs, I must have caught the eye. They must have thought 'let's try and make a cheeky move for him'.

"But the negotiations have never gone too far because I've always said that while Darlington are still in business I want to stick around.

"I had a few more phone calls towards deadline day from clubs trying to tempt me away, but with me starting out at Darlington I've just got a feeling that I want to stick around and see it through.

"I started here and I don't want to jump ship again. I feel as though I want to help out as best I can and try to get results on the pitch."

With Darlington's game postponed on Saturday at Mansfield Town - one of Rundle's former clubs - due to a frozen pitch, a friendly was arranged with Spennymoor Town, whose Northern League fixture was also called off.

Played on an all-weather pitch at Peterlee College, Rundle was among a side that also featured Jordan Nixon, Liam Bagnall, Aaron Brown, Kris Taylor Scott Harrison, Clark Keltie, Danny Lambert, John McReady and Ryan Bowman.

The match was played almost exactly ten years to the day since Rundle made his full Darlington debut in a 3-1 win at Carlisle United when Tommy Taylor was manager.

That came seven days after making his bow as a substitute for Brian Atkinson against Lincoln City.

Then a 17-year-old, Rundle now finds himself as one of the senior players and feels a responsibility to help guide the many teenagers currently in Darlington's first-team picture.

"I had a look the other day and out of 33 games I've started 26. So I've had a consistent season and now, with me being one of the senior players there I'm looking at being on the pitch to try and help the younger lads out," he said.

"I was a young lad once, coming through at 17, and had a few older pros helping me out. Craig Liddle was there, I played alongside him a few times.

"The ten years have gone by in the blink of an eye. You don't realise how quickly it goes by.

"As an older player, you've got a responsibility to try and help the teenagers out and full credit to them because they've been absolutely top drawer.

"None of them have looked out of place, they've given their all, so they deserve a pat on the back for coming in and having a go."

Rundle said some Darlington supporters were less than enthusiastic when Mark Cooper brought him back to the club, explaining that there was some amount of "previous" with the club's fans.

He joined Carlisle a year after breaking into Quakers' first team and during subsequent matches at the Arena experienced a fractious relationship with some Darlington fans when he was in opposition colours.

He said: "There was a mixed reaction when I first came back because of what went on in the past, but I feel as though the way I've played and by sticking around and trying to be loyal has turned those into positive comments.

"Over the years I had quite a few battles with Darlington. I always saw it as a bit of banter. I've had it at a few clubs. On the pitch it's the way I am, I like to wind up opposition fans and players.

"But I'm enjoying my football now and on the pitch I'm doing well so I've just told myself that I'll stick it out.

"Hopefully, now something positive is happening. If the fans can take over and see it through there will not be anyone more delighted than me.

"Darlington gave me that stepping stone to play professional football. I've had a good career, ten years, and I'm still involved.

"Now that we're in administration, the aim is to see it through and come out the other end."