Source: Northern_Echo
Cooper out to sign another front runner
Darlington aim to return to winning ways at Rushden & Diamonds tonight, with manager Mark Cooper hoping his team will be bolstered by the addition of a new striker.[LNB] Having signed Daniel Powell on loan from MK Dons at the end of last week, Cooper intends to sign another loan forward in time to make his debut at 12th-placed Rushden.[LNB] After seeing Quakers' eight-match unbeaten run come to an end against Wrexham on Saturday, Cooper could not hide his frustration with some of his first-choice players.[LNB] I told the players that the Bath and Eastbourne games, when we drew after being in winning a position, would bite them on the backside,[LNB] he said. By not seeing them games out they have put themselves under pressure to win home games.[LNB] We've had 13 games now, we've lost two and we've not done enough to win enough, so it's my job to change things, to bring in some players or to give some a chance to make us better.[LNB] Only the defenders came in for praise from Cooper, who added: Consistently, for the last few weeks, our best players have been the two centre-backs and the left-back. (Danny) Hone, (Kevin) Austin and (Aaron) Brown have been outstanding and the rest of them have been poor.[LNB] Powell made his debut against Wrexham, and if today's proposed deal goes through he will be joined by another new face.[LNB] Cooper said: I thought Dan did well on Saturday.[LNB] He's fast, he gets in behind defenders.[LNB] There was an opportunity in the first half where all Gary Smith had to do was roll it in and Dan would've been in on goal, but he took an extra touch.[LNB] He should've had a tap in but Liam Hatch played the ball behind him. In the second half he looked the most likely to create something for us and that's a 19-year-old who has come in when we've got some experienced players.[LNB] He's got real pace and hopefully we'll have another one in before Rushden. A striker with Conference experience who has scored goals.[LNB] Paul Arnison will return from a one-match ban and Ian Miller is fit to travel to Nene Park, a ground Quakers have not visited since the opening day of the 2005-06 season.[LNB] Meanwhile, former Darlington manager Simon Davey was sacked by Hereford United yesterday with the Bulls bottom of League Two after only one win in ten games.[LNB] At the end of last season, Davey was in charge of Quakers for ten matches before infamously quitting by email, telling chairman Raj Singh he had accepted a coaching job in the US.[LNB] A club statement read: "The club decided to terminate their contracts after an unacceptable start to the season which has seen the club slump to the bottom of the table."[LNB]
