Darlington expect to confirm the departure of Exodus Geohagon this morning, but Craig Liddle still hopes the club can retain the services of Liam Hatch for the longer term.

Geohagon is thought to have spent last night weighing up a move back to the Football League with Dagenham & Redbridge, with a switch to Blue Square Bet Premier outfit Mansfield Town also an option.

But, having accepted days ago the centre-back would be leaving The Northern Echo Arena, Liddle is instead looking at the bigger picture and is focused on those he does have available for the trip to Ebbsfleet tomorrow.

At the moment Hatch, thought to be the club's highest paid player, is still included on Darlington's squad list, although there remains interest. As well as Fleetwood, it is believed Gateshead have also been in touch about the 29-year-old.

But after watching four of the squad he inherited from Mark Cooper depart in the last fortnight already, Liddle hopes the financial situation will have improved enough for the club to start to think about keeping Hatch.

"Liam has created a lot of interest," said caretaker boss Liddle, who heads down to Rotherham after first team training this morning to take charge of a youth team fixture. "But no-one has come in with a firm offer.

"I would like to hang on to Liam because he is one of the main players here, even if he is a big earner. Hopefully someone like Liam will still be around for the next manager to come in and build a team around.

"But if the right offer comes in then we are going to have to be realistic and he could go. As far as I know, Liam will be on the coach travelling down to Ebbsfleet."

Hatch is the only experienced first team striker Darlington have available for tomorrow's match after Ryan Bowman pulled up with a hamstring strain, but Liddle could turn to former Middlesbrough youngster James Gray.

"We are down to one senior, fit striker because Ryan is out. That's just circumstances," said Liddle, who will take youth team players Dale Hopson and Jordan Nixon with him to Ebbsfleet.

"We have to keep some sort of side together. It's no good just throwing all the youth team lads in because there is a huge difference between the leagues.

"But if there are any serious offers that come in for our players then the chairman will decide. We will just have to see."

It seems inevitable Geohagon will depart today, though, after being allowed to train away from Darlington.

"Something will happen with Ex," said Liddle. "He has the offers of either Dagenham or Mansfield. I don't know where he is training, I just know he is training with one of them."

Ronnie Moore, who was interviewed for the Darlington manager's job, has emerged as one of the favourites to take over at Northampton.