DAVE Penney is hoping the appointment of Craig Liddle as Darlington's head of youth will improve the amount of players coming through the club's ranks.

The number of players to have progressed to the senior squad from the youth team has been minimal in recent years.

Of the current squad, only striker Sean Reay has made the step up and gone on to appear for the first-team, where the 18-yearold has made five appearances.

During Darlington's recent injury crisis, Penney decided against calling up players from the junior ranks because he didn't think they were ready to compete at a higher level. But the boss hopes that the appointment of Liddle will help.

Liddle, who made over 300 appearances for Darlington, returned at the beginning of the month to replace Mick Tait, who left in December.

"Mick Tait left us before Christmas and if you look at the stats I don't think we've had any player come through the youth set-up and gone on to make regular appearances," said Penney.

"Clark Keltie was probably the last one and he was 17 when the club signed him from nonleague."

Liddle, who retired from the game in 2005, has already coached Academy sides at Middlesbrough and Sunderland. He was football development manager at Darlington College for two years before his new role.

Ben Parker is likely to remain at the club for the play-offs. There were fears Parker could return to Leeds following Alan Sheehan's sending off at the weekend.

Stockport's point at Chester last night means Quakers will finish sixth or seventh in League Two and they will be at home in the first leg of the play-offs.