Source: Northern_Echo
Singh wants no delays
Darlington chairman Raj Singh intends to ensure Darlington's absence from the Football League is as short as possible by winning the Blue Square Premier at the first attempt.[LNB] Quakers' relegation from League Two was confirmed on Tuesday despite a 1-0 win at title-chasing Rochdale 21 years since the club last dropped into the non-league.[LNB] In 1989-90 Darlington bounced back at the first time of asking, winning the GM Vauxhall Conference, and Singh is determined to repeat that achievement.[LNB] We don't intend to be in that league for long, said Singh, who is hoping the club's fans get behind their promotion push.[LNB] Automatic promotion is the prime target next season.[LNB] To do that we need to maintain a strong, full-time squad so going part-time isn't an option. It's going to require some investment from me, but that's what I bought into and I'm prepared to take another calculated gamble to make sure promotion is achieved.[LNB] It's been a dreadful season for the football club and I sympathise with our fans, I really do. I certainly didn't envisage this when we eventually completed the takeover last August.[LNB] But football is about ups and downs and hopefully it's now our turn for more ups than downs. Next season certainly promises to be an exciting one.[LNB] The Quakers chairman says the work starts now as manager Simon Davey looks to make new signings.[LNB] We're fully geared towards an instant return to the Football League,[LNB] added Singh.[LNB] We've put together a budget which is more than capable of doing that and the manager is more than happy with it. It's higher than the majority of the top six clubs currently in the Conference and higher than a lot of League Two budgets.[LNB] Simon has already been very busy looking at players and we're close to signing two or three new players who will be with us before the end of the season.[LNB] From the manager's point of view it's important to get them in as soon as possible so they can at least train with the lads and get to know each other, then when they start pre-season training in July they're already bedded in.[LNB] Having already toppled one of the promotionchasing teams this week, Darlington hope for a repeat performance when they play at third-placed Bournemouth on Saturday.[LNB] Davey will have to check on the fitness of defender Andrew Milne.[LNB] He suffered a back injury on Tuesday after replacing Paul Arnison who limped off in the first half with a hamstring problem.[LNB] But matchwinner Nathan Mulligan, withdrawn in the closing stages after suffering from cramp, will be available.[LNB]
