Darlington paraded their nine summer signings yesterday and more new players are expected to follow, but striker Julian Joachim could be moving in the opposite direction.

Quakers have already brought in more players than any other Football League club, and chairman George Houghton told yesterday how he expected to oversee the arrival of around four more.

Two targets are currently in negotiation, with a left midfielder and a striker of particular interest.

If Darlington are able to convince the striker to join, it would take the number of forwards at the club to five, meaning that Joachim's time in the North-East could come to an end.

The former Boston United hitman, who cost £100,000 last September, was largely a disappointment last season, scoring just seven goals in 41 games.

Rival clubs have shown an interest in Joachim and Houghton has made it clear he would rather the player permanently move to the region from his base in Lincolnshire.

He did have a house in Darlington last season, but Houghton said: "The problem with Julian is that he's had family problems in the south.

"He's back with his wife now and that's important, because when you've got problems they are always in the back of your mind. Now he'll have a clear mind.

"All these new signings have moved up here with their families, they're staying here. Unfortunately, as soon as Julian's finished training he'll jump in the car and will be away back home - and we need them on board all the time.

"Julian is top class but we always needed another striker, regardless.

"We've asked Julian to make his mind up now because the season is coming up and there are a few teams down south that want him.

"It's up to the manager and up to Julian to sort out."

Joachim is one of only seven players remaining at the club from David Hodgson's third spell as manager, as Darlington's squad now very much carries Dave Penney's influence.

Not including former youth team members Wayne Clarke, Lewis Hardman and Shaun Reay, of the 21 players in Quakers' squad, Penney is responsible for signing 14 of them and more will arrive before the starts on August 11.

Houghton, who says Penney has had a substantial budget at his disposal, said: "There's four more to come. We've offered contracts to two and are awaiting for the players to accept them. One is a striker.

"I told David to get top players because I'm not looking at being in the League Two, I'm looking way ahead of that.

"I feel good because we have got everything right now. We started looking at the situation well before the end of the season and we've talked a lot since May, we've know what we've wanted for a long time.

"I've always believed that we need top class athletes and that's what we've got.

"We've got the stadium, we've got the training facilities and now we've got the players. Also, I've doubled David's budget to make sure we got them.

Although Houghton declined to be exact, he did say he had given Penney a budget of "over £2m".

He added: "I don't want any play-offs, I want to go straight up. Without injuries and viruses which we had last year we should do well. And we've got back-up in the squad this time."

One player not expected to sign for Darlington is former Sunderland defender Dan Smith who had been linked with a move from south from Aberdeen.

The Dons boss Jimmy Calderwood said: "There's been reported interest from Yeovil and Darlington in the kid, but he's returned as the Dan I saw playing at Sunderland.

"He was told at the end of last season he hadn't been good enough.

"But to be fair to the lad he's gone away and sorted himself out.

"I can see the difference in training. We never doubted his ability."

Barry Simmonds will begin working at Darlington as managing director next week.

The experienced former Cardiff City chief scout will not be working in a football capacity, but his role will enable Jon Sotnick to concentrate on some of the club's ambitious off the field projects.

Simmonds has most recently been manager of New Zealand Knights in the Australian A-League and counts Fulham, Queens Park Rangers and Crystal Palace among his many former clubs.