Source: Northern_Echo
Singh aims to make swift appointment
Darlington are drawing up a list of potential managers and are aiming to make an appointment within the next ten days.[LNB] Despite the season being effectively over with relegation as good as confirmed, they are keen to replace Steve Staunton as soon as possible.[LNB] With several candidates having already spoken to Quakers' hierarchy they could even have a new man in place before Saturday's visit to Shrewsbury Town.[LNB] The club's immediate focus is on this evening's home game with Aldershot Town.[LNB] But chairman Raj Singh intends to give his next manager as much time as possible to prepare for life in non-league and there are no shortage of prospective employees.[LNB] A raft of candidates with Darlington connections are keen on the position, with Curtis Fleming, Craig Hignett and Mark Proctor among the leading contenders.[LNB] Kevan Smith remains interested while it is believed that ex-Quakers boss Mick Tait, now manager at Blyth Spartans in the Blue Square North, would like to be considered.[LNB] Tait has not made a formal application but is keen on speaking to Singh regarding a return to the club, as is former Darlington assistant boss Martin Gray.[LNB] He is currently assistant to Dave Penney at Oldham, but unrest among supporters due to their lowly league position means the pair are under pressure at Boundary Park.[LNB] A number of interested candidates will be at The Northern Echo Arena this evening and Singh has explained the reasons behind looking to make a swift appointment.[LNB] He said: The hope is that we can bring in a new manager and he will have the last ten games or so to asses the current squad so he can prepare properly during the pre-season and we can hit the ground running next season and hopefully bounce back up at the first attempt.[LNB] The Darlington chairman axed Staunton on the back of 17 defeats in 23 games, and the chairman has admitted he could not see Quakers winning another match under the Irishman's reign.[LNB] There was a lot of really good things that Steve did behind the scenes, stuff our fans won't see, and I'd like to personally thank him for that, but we couldn't see where the next win was coming from, and that was a major concern,[LNB] said Singh, writing in this evening's programme.[LNB] We'd been considering the situation for a couple of weeks and we felt that a lot of fans voted with their feet on Saturday.[LNB] Saturday's game with Barnet attracted only 1,463 supporters and another low gate is expected for the visit of tenth-placed Aldershot. The West Stand at The Northern Echo Arena will be closed, on safety grounds, say Quakers.[LNB] Head of youth Craig Liddle will make changes to the final line-up selected by Staunton who had excluded several senior players.[LNB] But the Irishman's exit means they are all now back in favour and some of his own recruits will be jettisoned from the matchday squad as Quakers look for their first win in ten matches.[LNB] DARLINGTON (4-4-2, probable): Redmond; Arnison, Miller, White, Milne; Moore, Waite, G Smith, Gray; Purcell, Main.[LNB]
