DARLINGTON are less than two weeks away from the start of the season and manager Alun Armstrong is happy with their business on the transfer front so far. 

Over the weekend, former York City and Hartlepool United forward Jake Cassidy has joined the club and featured in the Quakers pre-season friendly with Boro's Under 23's. 

Meanwhile, Armstrong has said there will be an offer on the table for striker Andrew Nelson who has been training with the club over the summer following his release from Torquay United. 

Armstrong has made clear of his intentions to find talent from the leagues above and he has extended his search to the Football League where players are full-time. 

The Quakers boss has been giving his verdict to the Northern Echo about the rest of the transfer business the club have conducted over the summer. 

"I’d have been a lot happier if I had the ones I wanted in a lot earlier. The top players I wanted took a lot longer than I would have anticipated and some of them have went off elsewhere.

"There’s nothing I can do about that. It wasn’t monetary, it was more lifestyle but we’ll keep ploughing in and as I say I’m not going to rush it. The players I’ve brought in, Kevin Dos Santos, I think he’ll be exciting to watch.

"Junior Mondal, I think he’ll be exciting once he gets settled in. Three full-backs have come in, Joey Hope, the young lad. I think he showed people against Newcastle what he’s got, energy up and down, great left foot and we’ve got George (Smith) who’s got loads of great experience at this level, Football League.The Northern Echo:

"Kallum Griffiths, loads of experience, you could go on and on with them and Alex Purver, I think he’s been a real good find. He compliments the two midfielders I’ve got when we want to play three in there but there’ll be times when we change it and we’ll just play the two in there and he gives us a nice balance.

"Tommy Taylor, I think we’ve been lacking a big goalkeeper with a voice and he’s come in and done really well. Even young Lucas (Martin) who we’ve brought in from York, he’ll give Tommy a little bit of a push to keep his place cemented so I’m quite pleased with what we’ve got but you never ever stop in the football market.

"You always want to get better, you always want to strengthen, you always want to look out for better players."

As Armstrong eludes to, it's been a struggle for the Quakers to bring in elite talent due to the part-time model the club is currently operating. 

While the club have missed out on a number of transfer targets, there is an expectation that the club could announce more signings later this week. 

While Darlington continue preparations off the pitch ahead of the new season, the Quakers have two more friendlies ahead of their season opening game against AFC Telford United at Blackwell Meadows.

They face Sunderland Under 23's in midweek before a friendly clash against Northern Premier League side Whitby Town at the weekend.