Colin Todd had a huge task on his hands this summer, building a squad from scratch with very little money to spend, but he has paid the price for failing to win any of his first nine league games as Darlington manager. Assistant Sports Editor Craig Stoddart reviews his four months in charge.

QUAKERS are in crisis. They have been for some time and during Saturday’s game Colin Todd’s demeanor suggested all was not well.

Throughout the game at Grimsby Town he remained seated. Instead it was his assistant, Dean Windass, on the sidelines doing the shouting and cajoling. You know, the sort of stuff that the manager is expected to do.

And whenever Windass wanted to consult with another member of staff it was Neil Maddison he turned to, whereas Todd, wearing an unusual combination of smart trousers and a blue Errea football shirt, remained silent and seated.

Wearing half suit, half football kit, Todd appeared only half prepared, and staying in his seat suggested his mind was only half on the job.

All became apparent later when Todd revealed the game had been a must-win or else.

Chairman Raj Singh had threatened to make changes in his programme notes for the Bournemouth game a week ago.

“When there are decisions to be made, on the playing side and the non-playing side of the club, I will not be afraid to make them, when the time is right,” he said.

Clearly he believed that time was now, but even without Singh’s warning Todd must surely have known for some time his position was under threat.

It had long appeared to be a case of when, and not if, he would leave The Northern Echo Arena.

Todd was not the chairman’s appointment, as he arrived during May when Quakers were still in administration, and after starting the season so badly, Todd was soon on a collision course with his P45.

So following Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Grimsby Town we knew what was coming as he gathered several North-East journalists on the Blundell Park pitch.

He abandoned the protocol of dealing with the media in the press box, instead asking the Grimsby-based hacks to allow him some time with those of us who follow Darlington. Or “the ones I trust” as he called us.

As he stood in the evening sunshine near the centre circle, Todd first talked about the game, how Darlington had been “streets ahead of Grimsby” and how he felt Quakers had deserved to win. And then he made his announcement.

“What I want to say is that I am leaving the football club, that was my last game.

I don’t know who’ll be in charge next,” he said, by now having changed into a white shirt, much more suitable for a man wearing beige coloured trousers.

“A decision was made during the week but I kept it very quiet. Results have prompted it, that’s the nature of the business we’re in.

“The decision has been made, whether it’s hasty or not I don’t know.”

Despite it being no surprise, the timing was ironic as it followed Quakers’ best performance of the season.

Darlington passed the ball around well, and although they did not create many chances they fully-merited a point. That despite going down to ten men when Jamie Chandler was sent off with 15 minutes to play.

That the late leveller was scored by teenager Curtis Main was ironic in itself as Todd had not appeared to rate the 17-year-old, instead preferring on-loan David Dowson.

Todd revealed he had agreed to step down following a meeting last Monday with Singh and managing director Graham Fordy – two days after a harsh home defeat to Bournemouth, the league leaders who are enjoying their best start to a season.

In contrast, Quakers have recorded their worst start to a campaign and Todd’s statistics now stand as among the worst in the club’s history. Only Paul Futcher can rival it.

Futcher lasted 47 days in 1995, sacked after failing to win any of ten games, but Todd’s circumstances were hugely different as he had to build a squad almost from scratch and had little money to offer potential players. We all know what you get when you pay peanuts.

Plus, he was unable to offer any contracts until the eve of the season due to administration. Even the likes Jose Mourinho would have struggled in such circumstances.

The vastly-experienced Todd was on a hiding to nothing and admitted that it had been the hardest job of his career.

Some admission given that the 60-year-old has managed seven different clubs during a managerial career that began in 1990, making him one of the most experienced in the game.

Despite two decades as a boss, plus a successful playing career, he did make mistakes that contributed to his downfall and among them was not making dependable defender Steve Foster a first-choice.

In the same quirky manner that Brian Clough only ever called his own son “the number nine”, Todd only referred to Foster as “the skipper” but twice dropped him in favour of youngster Matt Plummer.

Having undergone surgery during the summer that meant missing almost all of pre-season, Foster needed games to play his way back into fitness and form.

And recruiting only one full-back in the form of Paul Arnison proved costly as he has been injured.

With no full-backs in reserve, until the recent arrival of Tony Kane on loan, Todd had to rely on Plummer and Rikki Bains, but both are centre-backs and looked uncomfortable.

On the left was Mark Bower, but he is also a centre-back and appeared a weak link until he too suffered an injury. Winger Jeff Smith is playing as an emergency left-back, which is not ideal.

Neither was starting the season with a strikeforce with a combined age of 73 in the shape of Lee Thorpe, 33, and Windass, 40.

But they might have proved more productive with a pacey striker alongside one of them, so it is a shame Todd did not hand more opportunities to Main.

Especially as David Dowson has contributed little.

But Todd has at least brought some quality to the club in the shape of Russell Hoult, Jamie Chandler and Jamie Devitt. All are on loan and hopefully their services can be retained.

Most would be sympathetic to the genial Todd. He had an unenviable task and his successor will find it just as difficult unless Singh provides funds.

Failure to back the new manager would merely prolong the poor results which are sending an illequipped team into a relegation battle that they currently don’t look like winning.