HOURS after suggesting he was the right man to take Darlington forward, Mark Cooper is believed to have been lined up for another job.

Cooper was among the leading candidates to succeed Steve Staunton at The Northern Echo Arena, but now chairman Raj Singh is having to concentrate on the other names on his shortlist.

Former Barnsley manager Simon Davey is the most likely candidate to be installed, although former Brighton and Scarborough boss Russell Slade hopes to be in with a chance.

There has also been interest in Middlesbrough’s Academy coach Mark Proctor, while Craig Hignett, Kevan Smith and Curtis Fleming are all still keen for an opportunity.

Cooper has been looking for a quick return to frontline management since losing his job at Peterborough United at the beginning of February.

He is thought to have applied for the Hereford United job, although former club Kettering are hoping for his return.

If Cooper was installed as Hereford boss in the next few days, he would take them to face Quakers on Easter Monday.

Singh, however, is thought to have been making significant progress on his task last night.

The chairman wants to have confirmed the identity of his third managerial appointment in the next 24 hours and Davey is the front-runner.

He has been looking for work since parting company with Barnsley in August.

That was his first job in management and he spent two months on loan as a player at Feethams in 1997.