Source: Northern_Echo
Quakers dumped back on canvas
SIMON DAVEY arrived at Darlington with an intention to bring the feelgood factor back to a club that had been on its knees and he succeeded for a short while.[LNB] Following last year's administration, Quakers were relegated at the end of the club's worst ever season, so craved stability and hoped there could be better times ahead. Davey, it appeared, was the right man for the job.[LNB] The highly-rated former Barnsley boss wasted little time in bringing in recruits as he set about building a new squad and installing much-needed optimism ahead of a campaign in the Blue Square Bet Premier.[LNB] But yesterday, only 77 days after his April 1 appointment, Davey delivered a hammer blow to a club and supporters that had dared pin their hopes on their young manager.[LNB] The 39-year-old gained a reputation as an up-andcoming talent while at Barnsley, so when he dropped down to Darlington there were raised eyebrows.[LNB] Jaws hit the floor yesterday when he announced his resignation.[LNB] Having made six signings and seen 16 players leave, Davey was well on the way to forming his squad for next season.[LNB] Furthermore, before jetting off for a spot of coaching in the Orlando sunshine, Davey asked chairman Raj Singh to complete three signings, while he had given his approval to the club's training ground for next season.[LNB] Davey, however, will not be around to use it but, bearing in mind his comments in April when asked about releasing players, yesterday's entirely self-centred decision should not be regarded as a surprise. He said in April: Footballers are very selfish people. They only care about themselves. It's a very dog eat-dog world.[LNB] Every player has their own circumstances and they only have to look after No 1.[LNB] He has done that okay, and in doing so has left Darlington high and dry.[LNB] Supporters can surely only feel sympathy towards Singh, who is left without a manager but with a halfbuilt squad, many of whom were either signed by Davey or have stayed at the club because they were offered a new contract by him.[LNB] It is not only his exit that is surprising but the manner in which he resigned by email that has left Darlington and their supporters bitter and angry.[LNB] Had Quakers sacked him by email, then the League Managers' Association and the footballing fraternity would have been out en masse to condemn Quakers' lack of class.[LNB] Instead, it appears to be a cowardly act on Davey's part. If his announcement could not wait until he returned from the US, how difficult would it have been to phone Singh[LNB] In his statement, Singh suggests Davey has mentioned personal reasons as his excuse.[LNB] Until those reasons are revealed, which could transpire to be quite understandable, Davey can only be judged on his actions which is why Singh and the supporters feels so let down by a man in which so much faith had been pinned.[LNB] It took George Reynolds just over a year. George Houghton around two and a half years. Davey has taken only 77 days to join that short but infamous list of Darlington hate figures.[LNB] It is ironic that he joined the club intending to install a feelgood factor but has instead has done little more than leave supporters angry and frustrated.[LNB] Not for the first time in recent years, Darlington have suffered a sucker punch and must now pick itself up from the canvas.[LNB] Simon Davey Timeline APRIL 1: On the day that Simon Davey is appointed as manager (below) he announces that he wants to bring the feelgood factor back.[LNB] Ryan Kidd is named as assistant and the pair sign one-year contracts.[LNB] 3: Davey's first game is a moraleboosting 2-1 win at Burton on a day that sees Quakers heavilybacked by rejuvenated supporters who meet the appointment with optimism.[LNB] 13: Relegation is confirmed on the same night that Quakers enjoy a shock 1-0 win at Rochdale (far right). A delighted Davey says: Wins like tonight give everybody a bit of pride which is something that has been missing this season.[LNB] The crowds have been down, but we need everyone behind us so we can have a really good assault next year.[LNB] 28: Davey begins his recruitment drive, bringing in midfielder Jamie Chandler from Sunderland and German left-back Dominik Werling. Werling played under Davey at Barnsley.[LNB] 29: Davey steps up his overhaul by releasing five more players.[LNB] Having already jettisoned Noel Whelan, Patrick Deane and Ross Chisholm, also out of the exit door go Mor Diop, Stuart Giddings, Richie Byrne, Ricky Bains and Dan Riley.[LNB] MAY 1: Quakers win 2-0 at Macclesfield with Michael Smith's performance enough to convince Davey that the teenager deserves a deal.[LNB] 4: Sam Russell becomes Davey's next signing with the keeper returning to the club where he was player of the year in 2004-05.[LNB] 8: Darlington say goodbye to the Football League with a 2-0 home defeat to Dagenham (below).[LNB] 10: Davey takes the number of exits since his appointment to 15 as he informs a further seven that they are not required: Dan Groves, Gary Dempsey, Mark Bower, Mark Convery, Nathan Mulligan, Nick Liversedge and Simon Madden. Plus, Tadhg Purcell announces his intention to leave. Davey says: Its not nice, but its just part of my job and I have to be ruthless.[LNB] 15: Davey completes a double signing with the recruitment of goalkeeper Kelvin Jack and Chris Senior. It is the second time Davey has tried to sign Jack who broke a leg while on trial at Barnsley in February 2008.[LNB] JUNE 1: Striker Tommy Wright becomes Davey's sixth and final signing.[LNB] 10: Chairman Raj Singh takes a tough stance on players agents, announcing he won't be held to ransom. His position has seen Darlington miss out on midfielder Michael Coulson.[LNB] 14: On the same day that the deadline passes for cut-price season tickets, internet-based rumours surface that Davey has quit. He is coaching at the Paul Scholes Academy in Orlando, Florida and Singh is unable to contact him.[LNB] 15: Managing director Graham Fordy explains to The Northern Echo that Quakers continue to be frustrated in their attempts to contact Davey while Kidd tells Quakers says he knows nothing of any supposed exit.[LNB] 16: Davey quits by email. Singh says: We were as shell-shocked as anyone to receive this news and it does come as a big blow to us and our plans.[LNB]
