Source: Northern_Echo
Hatch heads back to Quakers
STRIKER Liam Hatch has become the latest arrival at The Northern Echo Arena after Darlington beat several Conference clubs to his signature.[LNB] The 28-year-old has joined on a six-month loan from Peterborough United and hopes to replicate the form which saw him become a fans' favourite during his previous spell at the club.[LNB] Hatch spent most of the 2008-09 season with Quakers, scoring nine goals in 26 league appearances, before his stay was curtailed after Darlington slumped into administration.[LNB] The tall forward is surplus to requirements at Peterborough, who he joined from Barnet for £150,000 in January 2008, and spent last season with Luton Town who just missed out on promotion from the Conference.[LNB] Manager Mark Cooper is trying to build a squad that will enable Hatch to go one better and revealed that the Hitchin-born forward chose Darlington ahead of a handful of rivals clubs.[LNB] He had one or two offers from other clubs in the Conference but felt it would be the right thing to do to come up here and play for Darlington,[LNB] said Cooper.[LNB] He mentioned his previous spell and I think he enjoyed his time up here. He had a bit of an affinity with the place and the supporters.[LNB] It was important to get the ball rolling with a few signings and I think the supporters know he's the right kind of player that we need.[LNB] It gives us a lift straight away. The supporters know what he's about and I'm sure they'll be looking forward to seeing him play.[LNB] He was a Peterborough player when I was manager there and I've seen him play in the Conference so I knew what he was all about.[LNB] He's the type that I wanted.[LNB] He's someone that knows the league and someone that can really put themselves about up front.[LNB] Hatch, Darlington's eighth summer signing, takes the number of strikers at the club to five and he will compete for a place along with Tommy Wright, Chris Senior, Curtis Main and Michael Smith.[LNB] Cooper hopes a ninth arrival is on the way in the form of a centre-back and he paid tribute to chairman Raj Singh for enabling him to bring in Hatch.[LNB] He said: Fair play to the chairman for letting us bring a player in from a League One club. He has shown his intent there and should take enormous credit for that.[LNB] I could bring in ten alright players but I'd rather bring in three or four good players.[LNB]
