Source: Daily_Mail
It's all uphill from here, Steve: Staunton relishing Darlington challenge
Mountain to climb: New Darlington manager Steve Staunton[LNB] In a twist on Mrs Merton's infamous question to Debbie McGee: 'What first attracted you to the millionaire Paul Daniels?' Steve Staunton was asked at Darlington what first attracted him to the club occupying 92nd position in England's four divisions.[LNB] Staunton, who won the League and FA Cup with Liverpool, the League Cup twice with Aston Villa, a record 102 caps for the Republic of Ireland and then managed his country, replied: 'You don't want to take over a club that's flying.'[LNB] There was none of Mrs Merton's irony here. Irony is one of many things League Two strugglers Darlington cannot afford.[LNB]Two points from their first 11 games, they lost at home to Macclesfield last Saturday courtesy of an own goal. Staunton, 40, will begin to try to rectify things at the training ground the club share with Durham Constabulary.[LNB]That is how ironic things are at a club who emerged fromadministration in June and who attract about 1,700 fans to a stadiumwith a capacity of 25,000. Unless it is by the seat of their pants,Darlington have not been accused of flying for a while. That makes thisan incongruous stage for an international figure likeStaunton. Even if his status in Ireland is on a par with SteveMcClaren's in England, Staunton remains recognisably Liverpool.[LNB] His Irish times had been bruising - the Republic lost 5-2 to Cyprus during his spell in charge - but he was young and in his first post. He said: 'It probably came a bit too early in my career but, at the same time, when the question was asked, it was hard to turn down a job like that. It's happened, it's gone.'[LNB] Failure: Steve Staunton holds his head in disappointment after Republic of Ireland lost 1-0 in Germany and missed on qualificattion to Euro 2008[LNB] So, as of Monday this white elephant ground dreamed up by formerchairman George Reynolds, a one-time safe-cracker who stored explosivesin his ice cream van before being jailed, became home to Staunton.[LNB]He and his assistant, Kevin Richardson, the former elegant Arsenal andAston Villa midfielder, have signed on until the end of the season.Presumably anything longer would have felt implausible. [LNB]There was still a sceptic's question of 'why?' to be answered but, as Staunton sat beside the new chairman Raj Singh, he described Darlington as 'a great opportunity'.[LNB] Having had 10 months out of the frontline since being sacked along with Gary McAllister at Leeds and having been pipped to posts at Rotherham and Lincoln, Staunton proclaimed himself happy to be 'getting the hands dirty again'.[LNB] He said: 'The club have fantastic potential, that's why I'm here. I did my homework. The big thing for me was that the financial state of the club was secure and that there was an ambitious chairman. I am fully aware there have been difficult times here.'[LNB]Success: Steve Staunton won the League and FA Cup with Liverpool and the League Cup twice with Aston Villa[LNB] [LNB] Singh, who made his money in care homes, was pleased with his coupand said that Staunton's management of the Republic was akin to beingin charge of a supermarket.[LNB] 'If you've managed Sainsbury's, surely you can come and manage a small corner shop,' Singh said.[LNB]Fortunately, Staunton's optimism was already in the room. The job wasdescribed by the previous manager, the vastly experienced Colin Todd,as 'the hardest I have had'. Given recent circumstances, others havecalled it the hardest job in England. [LNB]When Darlington held a 'Come and Meet Your Heroes' signing in the Cornmill Centre three weeks ago, the queue at Greggs the bakers was longer.[LNB] Singh said: 'The link has been broken over the years between the fans and the club. That is what we are trying to rebuild and I feel, personally, that that will be the hardest job. But we're working on it.'[LNB] Staunton's opinion is that the only way is up. The existence of the Blue Square Premier - a level Darlington dropped to in 1989 - proves that wrong, but the new manager, whose first game is away to third-place Dagenham and Redbridge on Saturday, is positive the club can survive. Nobody would argue with his description that it would be 'a massive achievement' should they do so.[LNB] One final twist is that his task begins on the day Ireland host Italy in a World Cup qualifier. Until success comes, the Irish job will follow Staunton around. But he said: 'Every experience is a good experience -whether it be bad or not.' [LNB] Pompey saved! But does anyone know who Ali Abdullah Al Faraj actually is?Maradona in Argentina quit threat as must-win World Cup qualifiers loomNotts County owner mystery remains unsolved as Shafi denies club's claim[LNB] [LNB] Explore more:People:Colin Todd, Gary McAllister, Steve McClaren, Paul Daniels, Raj SinghPlaces:Liverpool, Leeds, Ireland, Cyprus, United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland, Italy, Germany
