Source: Northern_Echo
Convery ready for challenge
Darlington'S Mark Convery might have been on the periphery of the action for much of this season but arguably there are a few in the squad better equipped than him for the Blue Square Premier.[LNB] The midfielder is in his second spell with Quakers, having returned last summer after four seasons away, during which time he enjoyed spells outside the Football League with York City and Cambridge United.[LNB] The 28-year-old reached the Conference play-offs with both clubs and he hopes for a similarly successful season at that level with Darlington, should he manage to convince manager Simon Davey he is worthy of retaining.[LNB] Obviously I'd like to stay at Darlington, he said.[LNB] I've played in the Conference before so I know what it's about.[LNB] I got to the play-off final twice and the semi-final, so I've got a lot experience of the division and it's not that much different from League Two.[LNB] I enjoyed my time with Cambridge and the division is a good standard, with a lot of full-time clubs that have come out of the Football League.[LNB] Convery has benefited from Davey's desire to give all of the squad a chance.[LNB] He started Saturday's defeat at Bournemouth and has appeared in the last six matches, but made only four appearances under Steve Staunton.[LNB] He said I saw it as a big opportunity when I came back here, then Staunton came in and wanted his own signings, which is fair enough. But, from my point of view, he didn't give people a fair crack.[LNB] It was a case of waiting until the end of the season.[LNB] The transfer window had closed and there wasn't a lot I could do. As a player it's frustrating because all you want to do is play.[LNB] A similar thing happened to Paul Arnison. We were both training with the youth team and kept our heads down for pretty much the whole time that Staunton was in charge. It was just a case of keeping myself fit and waiting for an opportunity.[LNB] The new manager has come in and a lot of us have a new lease of life. He said he didn't care what had gone on in the past, everybody would get their chance.[LNB] People might think there's nothing to play for as we're already relegated but the majority of the squad's contracts are up for renewal.[LNB] He has given me the opportunity and I can't ask for anything more, it's up to me now.[LNB]
