DARLINGTON have appointed experienced North-East campaigner Terry Mitchell as their new assistant manager.

Mitchell will be alongside Steve Watson in the dugout when the new Quakers boss kicks off his reign with a trip to King’s Lynn this weekend.

The new number two has amassed a wealth of managerial and coaching experience during a lengthy career in the non-league game.

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As a manager, he guided Northern League side Consett to the FA Vase final at Wembley three years ago and has also led Blyth Spartans in National League North.

As a coach, he has achieved his UEFA A qualification and has spent time with Newcastle United’s academy as well as filling senior positions at Birmingham City, Stockport County, Gateshead and the University of Northumbria.

Most recently, Mitchell has been employed at Workington, leading the Cumbrian club to promotion from NPL West to the NPL Premier Division last season.

“Terry has a huge amount of experience of coaching and managing at various levels of football, and has plenty of contacts,” said Watson, who was appointed as Josh Gowling’s permanent successor at Blackwell Meadows at the weekend. “He will be a great asset to us.”

The pair have taken on quite a task, with Darlington rooted in the National League North relegation zone after a disastrous first half of the season that saw Alun Armstrong dismissed, only for his successor, Gowling, to also be shown the door after just over three months in charge.

There is confidence fortunes can change though, with this weekend’s trip to King’s Lynn set to be quickly followed by another away game at Southport next Tuesday.

“Darlington are a massive club in the North-East, on the non-league scene,” said Mitchell. “To get the chance to come along and support Steve, and hopefully get the club back up the league (is great).

“It’s just a huge football club, isn’t it? The fanbase is excellent, really passionate about their football club, and there’s great facilities, so it’s just a no-brainer.”

Mitchell’s experience should be a considerable help to Watson, who boasts plenty of National League North knowledge himself thanks to his spells with York City and Chester.

“I got my A licence in 1999, and previous to that, I was working in the academies,” said Mitchell. “In senior football, I won a couple of championships with West Allotment Celtic and a couple of championships with the University. Taking Consett to Wembley was a fantastic experience, then I went to Blyth in a similar position – second bottom of the Conference North – but we kept them up.”