Source: Northern_Echo
Foster stunned by exit
Darlington captain Steve Foster expressed his surprise at seeing Colin Todd vacate the managers position and admitted the players feel partially responsible.[LNB] Although the decision for Todd to leave if they did not win at Grimsby on Saturday was made during a meeting with chairman Raj Singh last week, he had not informed the players.[LNB] After drawing 1-1 thanks to Curtis Mains 81st minute header, Todd told the players in the Blundell Park changing rooms that he was on his way.[LNB] Ironically, Saturdays performance was probably Darlingtons best of the season and Foster said: Obviously Im surprised. Weve not had the best of starts and were disappointed with that, but weve been trying to do the right things, trying to do the things the gaffer has told us.[LNB] In whats turned out to be his last game we passed the ball better than we have done all season, just as he wanted us to do.[LNB] He kept us in the dressing room and waited until the lads who had been out on the pitch doing a bit of work to come in, then he told us it had been his last game.[LNB] Youre upbeat about the performance and having got a good result. But then all of a sudden youre flat, like after a defeat, because its never nice for a manager to go.[LNB] Also, from my point of view, he is a manager I respect.[LNB] As players youve got to feel responsibility. The manager picks the side but once youre over that white line you have to strive to get good results and we havent done that.[LNB] With a little bit of luck we might have won. Curtis had a chance at the end and I had one that came off my back. If Id got a better touch that might have gone in.[LNB] Todd departs with Darlington bottom of the table with only two points, but he earned Fosters respect for his desire to play a passing game.[LNB] What was good was that he wanted us to do the right things, said Foster. He didnt want us to boot the ball long, he wanted us to pass it and gave us respect as players to make our own decisions on the pitch.[LNB] Unfortunately we havent produced the right results for him to stay.[LNB] Former Darlington captain Clark Keltie has joined Blue Square Premier club Chester City. The midfielder left for Rochdale in the summer of 2008 but, following a fall-out with manager Keith Hill, has gone on loan to Chester, where he joins up with former Darlington team-mates Tim Ryan and Gregg Blundell.[LNB] He made his debut in 0- 0 draw at Wrexham.[LNB]
