Quakers' new Brazilian trialist, Volmair Manfrin, will have to wait before making his first appearance in a Darlington shirt after tonight's friendly at North Shields was cancelled.

The 25-year-old began a two-week trial yesterday but tonight's game was called off because the hosts were unable to field a full-strength side.

The right-sided midfield Samba star won seven caps as an Under-17 international and is available on a Bosman free transfer, however, he did not make the best of impressions when he arrived late for training.

Manager Tommy Taylor, who has been recommended the player by an agent, explained: "He turned up late, came with 15 minutes left!

"And he had no training kit either so he got off to a good start."

Having had their application to join the Northern League turned down after winning the Wearside League, North Shields lost their manager Terry Paddison and a number of players so morale at the seaside club is low.

Darlington assistant manager Mick Tait explained: "One of the reasons we were playing the game was to repay them for letting us use their pitch last season when every other pitch was waterlogged.

"But we've said that when we do send a team there we're going to do it properly so we might play them during the season."

Instead of facing North Shields, Manfrin may play against Halifax Town on Thursday as three 30-minute matches at Darlington's Durham training ground against the Shaymen have been set-up.

Supporters are welcome to attend the games, kicking-off at 1pm, at the The Racecourse Ground in Durham.

Darlington's pre-season game at Durham City, scheduled for this Tuesday, July 16, went the same way as tonight's match when it was cancelled last week as the New Ferens Park pitch will not be ready.

Instead, Darlington look likely to play Brian Honour's team on the training ground on the same date.

l FIFA president Sepp Blatter yesterday sacked the organisation's widely-respected communications director Keith Cooper.

Cooper is the second victim of Blatter's campaign to rid the sport's world governing body of any influential figures who are not wholehearted supporters of his, following the departure of general secretary Michel Zen-Ruffinen.

Cooper, originally from Liverpool, had tried to remain above the political infighting which has engulfed FIFA over the past year, but his independence appears to have cost him his job.

Cooper said: ''It is a huge shock and a bit difficult for me to understand, coming just two weeks after the World Cup, the most successful media operation of any sports event in history.

''I was called in by the acting general secretary - not the president, whom I have known for almost 30 years, but who was unable to tell me himself - and told I was being dismissed as from today.

''It was really quite brutal. I have done the job since January 1995 and it's the only job in the world I wanted to do. I asked the reason and was told there was no reason."

l Blackburn boss Graeme Souness claims he will not walk out on Rovers if they are forced to sell Damien Duff.

It had been reported that Souness was stalling on signing a new contract until he received assurances from the Ewood Park board that neither £25m-rated Duff nor England Under-21 star David Dunn would be sold.

l Gordon Strachan has issued a hands-off warning to any clubs interested in defender Wayne Bridge.

Southampton boss Strachan said: ''He is having a break after the World Cup and will rejoin us in time for the tour to Sweden and we are not selling him."

England international Bridge has already been linked with Newcastle, and a number of other clubs are believed to be tracking him

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