Source: Northern_Echo
Cooper staying put despite approach
Mark Cooper will remain as Darlington manager until the summer when he will review his situation at The Northern Echo Arena.[LNB] Uncertainty has surrounded his position this week with Grimsby Town making him their number one target to become their new manager.[LNB] Cooper considered their offer of a contract lasting until the summer of 2013, which included a club option to extend that, but Quakers chairman Raj Singh blocked the Mariners' approach.[LNB] Rather than agitate for permission to speak to the Blundell Park club, Cooper is now focused on overseeing Quakers' play-off push and their FA Trophy semi-final with Gateshead.[LNB] Asked if expected to be Darlington manager at the end of the season, he said: "Yes, of course. We've got a lot going for us, we've still got an outside chance of getting into the play-offs and we've got a realistic chance of getting to a cup final.[LNB] "I'm here until the end of the season and we'll discuss it then.[LNB] "All I can keep saying is that I'm under contract until the end of the season, I'm enjoying life up here, we're doing pretty well and long may that continue."[LNB] Since leaving Kettering Town in November 2009 Cooper has had a short spell in charge at Peterborough United and has only been with Quakers since last summer.[LNB] He admits he would prefer to stay with a club for a longer period of time, but added: "The decisions are not in my hands. If you ask any manager they would say they want to manage as high as they can. I'd love to be managing in the Football League but I'm not.[LNB] "If I could take Darlington into the League this year that would be great."[LNB] Cooper's attention is now on tomorrow's match at home to 17th-placed Cambridge United when Quakers will aim to follow up Tuesday's impressive performance.[LNB] The 4-0 home win over Fleetwood Town was perhaps Darlington's best display of the season as their good run of results and form continued.[LNB] They have lost only one of their last 14 in all competitions while Cooper's men are undefeated in ten at The Northern Echo Arena.[LNB] Midfielder Gary Smith expects to return after being rested on Tuesday with a thigh strain, while striker John Campbell could return if he gets the all-clear today.[LNB] He will have another X-ray this afternoon to determine whether or not his broken hand has sufficiently healed.[LNB] Midfielders Paul Terry and Gareth Waite continue their comebacks from injury and are expected to be available for action within four weeks.[LNB] Terry has been out since October with cruciate ligament damage and Cooper added: "Paul's been training at full-tilt for two or three weeks now, but he can't go back to playing until he's had a six-month check.[LNB] "The surgeons use a certain guideline of time that they stick to before they say he can go back matches situations, they need to check that his tendon and ligament have healed. He has his check in a couple of weeks.''[LNB] Quakers' game at Histon has been re-scheduled for Tuesday, April 12 and the match at Kidderminster for Tuesday April 19.[LNB] Both fixtures made way for the club's two-legged FA Trophy semi-finals against Gateshead.[LNB]
