Source: Northern_Echo
Quakers face fight to keep Purcell
Darlington will do everything they can to persuade leading goalscorer Tadhg Purcell to stay in the North-East next season.[LNB] Both Preston North End and Swindon Town are among a growing list of admirers interested in signing the 25-year-old whose contract is up for renewal at the end of the campaign.[LNB] Manager Simon Davey has outlined to the Irishman that he wants to keep him at The Northern Echo Arena and chairman Raj Singh is working on a financial proposal to offer him.[LNB] But the Quakers boss is determined to formulate a squad capable of bouncing back in to the Football League quickly in the hope there will be little disruption when pre-season training begins in July.[LNB] And while Davey will attempt to do everything he can to keep Purcell beyond the last four matches of the season, he accepts he could be powerless to prevent his departure.[LNB] "I have had a chat with him. He is a striker that has nine goals in half a season, so we would love to keep him," said Davey. "We would like to keep him next year but he will have other offers on the table.[LNB] "Every manager or every player wants to play in the highest league they can. It will be a difficult task but I am a manager who has a chairman that will make an offer to someone and give them a time limit.[LNB] "If they don't sign within that time limit we will get someone else. The conversation I have had with him tells me he is happy here and happy with the new structure. He enjoys himself here but he is ambitious."[LNB] Going into the Blue Square Premier, when he may have an offer from another club that might be a higher standing will be appealing.[LNB] "If it was a Conference club I think there is only one club he will come to and that is us," said Davey. "If there are clubs in a higher league, what would anyone do It would be difficult for any player to turn a higher offer down."[LNB] The fact Purcell, who has scored nine goals in his 21 appearances since arriving from Shamrock Rovers, was only handed a six-month deal by Steve Staunton in January has left his Darlington future in doubt.[LNB] The Dubliner failed to train yesterday having spent the last few days recovering from the ankle problem he sustained in the draw at Cheltenham on Tuesday night.[LNB] But, like his strike partner Mor Diop who also remains a doubt with a similar problem, Purcell could be a surprise inclusion in the starting line-up when Grimsby arrive in the North-East tomorrow.[LNB]
