Todd tells youngsters to earn a move

Todd has promoted four former youth-team players to his senior squad – Danny Groves, Danny Riley, Josh Gray and Curtis Main – and all were involved in Monday night’s 2-1 friendly win at Blyth.

The quartet are also expected to feature tomorrow when the Quakers play Sunderland, and while Todd is expected to supplement his squad with a number of loan signings next month, it will not be at the expense of his homegrown talent.

The Darlington boss has inquired about Sunderland youngster Martyn Waghorn and Middlesbrough teenager Jonathan Franks as he looks to line up a series of loan deals, but is determined to give the club’s own youngsters every opportunity to prove themselves in the first team.

“The four young kids will all get a chance,” said Todd, who will hand former Hartlepool defender Paul Arnison a trial in tomorrow’s clash.

“There’s some talent there, and the message from this club is that the youngsters will get an opportunity this season.

“I spoke to Craig Liddle’s youth team earlier this week and said, ‘I’ll be watching you closely and, if you have the ability, the opportunities will come’.”

And Todd is not alarmed by the prospect of fending off offers for his young stars.

Seventeen-year-old Main has already spent a week on trial with Fulham, and while his trip ultimately proved in vain, Premier League and Championship scouts are likely to be regulars at the Arena this season.

Todd accepts that Darlington’s finances will force them to listen to any realistic offer, but he claims a big-money sale would be perfect for everyone involved.

“We might have to sell them somewhere down the line, but that’s nothing to be ashamed of and it’ll happen at most clubs,” he said.

“It would be great for a young lad from this club to move somewhere for £1m. It would be great for everyone, and it could happen.

“It would be a great position to be in because it would mean that the kids have done well.”