Liddle explains Devitt decision

01 October 2009 10:14
CARETAKER manager Craig Liddle has explained his surprise decision to substitute Jamie Devitt during Darlingtons defeat to Rochdale on Tuesday night. With his pace and trickery on the wing, the on loan Hull City youngster has wasted no time in impressing supporters who were disappointed to see him leave the field midway through the second half. But Liddle explained Devitt was exhausted and he had one eye on this Saturdays home match with Macclesfield Town. Jamie was a threat but by the end he was dead on his feet, said Liddle, who is in temporary charge following the departure of Colin Todd last weekend. Jamie hadnt trained for two months before he came here, we cant keep flogging him otherwise we'll burn the kid out and we need him on Saturday. We needed to save his legs a bit. Even at half time he was struggling. He was feeling the pace of it, he was feeling it in his thighs and his hamstrings. Liddle used his first game at the helm to hand a first start to teenage midfielder Dan Groves, a product of the clubs youth team. Dan did very well, said Liddle. We saw their big threat as being the two centre midfielders, Gary Jones and Jason Kennedy, who like to get forward. We know Dan can get about the pitch because hes got great energy levels and I thought he was excellent so he can be very proud of his full debut. Darlington hope winger Josh Gray will return to training today as he recovers from an ankle injury while defender Mark Bower has been penciled for the trip to Dagenham a week on Saturday. Meanwhile, Liddle fully expects to be in charge on Saturday with Darlington not yet in a position to name Todds successor. Liddle has yet to publicly declare his intentions regarding the vacant position, but supporters looking for a Quakers hero to take the reigns may be hoping that former manager Brian Little and captain Kevan Smith will return to the club. They have yet to rule themselves out of the running and although Little, 55, is employed at Gainsborough Trinity in the Blue Square North division, it is understood he would receptive to the idea of a return to the North-East.

Source: Northern_Echo