Bridge-Wilkinson’s red tape wrangle

Quakers' players had to sign new paperwork after they were made redundant seven days ago by administrator Harvey Madden, but Bridge-Wilkinson has not been travelling to the North-East for training of late.

The Huddersfield-based midfielder has instead been keeping fit with League One side Bury, however, on Friday morning he trained with Lincoln City.

But an offer from the Imps was not forthcoming, so he was available for Quakers' game at The Northern Echo Arena against Fleetwood on Saturday.

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After playing in the 1-0 defeat, he explained: "I'd had a chat with the Lincoln manager and there was supposedly going to be an offer on the table, but it didn't materialise. So then the decision came down to whether to play for Darlington or not today.

"As I was driving away from Lincoln's training ground I had to pull over when I got a phone call from the administrators. They told me I had to sign a form which had to be with the FA by 5pm - and this was at 2.10pm and I was still in Lincoln!

"So I pulled into a random hotel to borrow their fax, but we didn't realise that the fax machine at the club wasn't working because they switched everything off.

"So I had a couple of hours hanging around this hotel to sort things out and it was half four when I finally left this Travelodge in the middle Lincoln. I was on my feet the whole time too because there were no seats in reception, it was terrible!"

At the beginning of the season Bridge-Wilkinson would share travel costs with James Walshaw, Chris Atkinson and Ben Purkiss, but he is now the only member of that Yorkshire-based contingent remaining at the club.

He added: "I've been training on my own and with Bury which is obviously a lot nearer to my house so I've got to make a big thank you to the manager there, Richie Barker, who let me train.

"That's only half an hour from my house as opposed to an hour and a half up to training here.

"I know a couple of the Bury lads, they said car-share with us and cut down on your travelling and your expenses. So I've been training and keeping fit, but it's not ideal and Friday was a bit stressful.

"I didn't know mentally what I was doing or where I was. Once you've made the decision to play you've got to be focused."

Bridge-Wilkinson admits that his future is uncertain, and he has not ruled out Lincoln making an offer.

He admitted: "If there's an offer on the table you'd have to think about it. Whether it's an offer you want, a club that you want or a place that you want, none of it makes any difference now - it's an offer and I've not been paid since October now.

"I'm not happy about it to be quite honest. My wife's quite realistic, she's been with me long enough now and understands that football's the most ridiculous game in the world at times with some of the stuff that goes on off the pitch. No more so than what's happened in these last few months.

"The scenario we've been in for this period of time has been difficult and it's coming to a head."