Source: Northern_Echo
Foster: I want to stay
STEVE Foster has announced his intention to resolve the contract dispute that is keeping him out of the Darlington team.[LNB] The experienced defender is at loggerheads with Quakers over a clause in his contract that entitles him to a longer deal should the club's former captain start two more matches.[LNB] The clause, which does not apply to substitute appearances, means manager Steve Staunton has no intention of selecting the 35-year-old for the foreseeable future.[LNB] Chairman Raj Singh explained some weeks ago that the club's stance is purely financial, with Foster being Quakers' highest paid player.[LNB] That stance, coupled with the opening of the transfer window, has led to speculation that Foster could leave.[LNB] Foster, who has been replaced as captain by Ian Miller, explained: At the beginning of the season I renegotiated my terms to accept a wage cut and, in turn, they agreed that if I played 20 games, it would assure me of another season on my deal.[LNB] I'd already played 18 times when they made it clear they would no longer consider me for selection and gave the captaincy to Ian Miller.[LNB] It's very frustrating because all I want to do is help us in the very difficult situation we find ourselves in.[LNB] I want to get together to sort things out and get back onto the field.[LNB] Due to the impasse, Foster has not started a game since November 24, but four consecutive postponements mean his team-mates have hardly been in action either.[LNB] Saturday's match at home to Port Vale became the latest to be affected by the weather and no date has been announced for the rearranged game.[LNB] The succession of call-offs mean Darlington now have at least one game in hand on the teams near them at the bottom of the table, though their situation marginally worsened at the weekend.[LNB] Three teams Northampton, Cheltenham and Grimsby towards the bottom were all picked up points.[LNB] Quakers are due to resume their league programme with Saturday's trip to Bury for a fixture that will represent their first match since the December 12 drubbing at Torquay.[LNB] In the meantime the squad has changed somewhat because all but one of the loan players have now returned to their clubs. Striker James Collins remains for three more weeks.[LNB] Staunton has previously said he would like Jonathan Hogg to return from Aston Villa while the manager also expects to sign two players from the League of Ireland.[LNB] Meanwhile, former Quakers assistant manager Dean Windass has said he believes he could have helped lift the club from the bottom of the table had he not been sacked.[LNB] He and manager Colin Todd departed Darlington after failing to win any of the club's first nine league games.[LNB] Windass has since spent time working in the media but says he is keen for a return to management.[LNB] I believed that that given the time me and Colin would have turned it around, he said.[LNB] I've been a striker for many years and I knew that if I didn't score goals I wouldn't be in the team. So as a manager I know if you don't produce results then you're going to be in trouble and that's quite right because it's a results business.[LNB] It was a difficult club to manage because of all the issues involved with the finances but it was a very good experience.[LNB] I learnt a lot from Colin and I was grateful for the things he told me and the experience I got from that will hopefully stand me in good stead for the future.[LNB] There were so many things that you don't see as a player that I now understand because of working with Colin.[LNB] It was interesting to see how it worked and how to deal with all the different things pulling you in different directions.[LNB] Windass applied for the Grimsby Town managerial position, after Mike Newell was sacked in October.[LNB] He added: It's disappointing not to get anything so far but I'm prepared to be patient and wait for my chance.[LNB] I believe I'll get a chance and I can do a good job so there is no need to panic.[LNB] Like all managers who aren't working I have to be patient because there are hundreds of us and very few jobs.[LNB] It's a waiting game but I've prepared my CV and I've put it in a few places and it is hopefully just a matter of time.[LNB]
