Source: Northern_Echo
Staunton wants to bring stability with new deals
STEVE STAUNTON expects to be busy in the transfer market over the coming weeks, when he intends to bring in players on a permanent basis rather than continue to rely on loan deals.[LNB] Darlington today travel to Rotherham United, who are undefeated at home this season, although the game is subject to a 9.30am pitch inspetion.[LNB] The Millers have emerged as one of the favourites to secure promotion from League Two and Ronnie Moore's side have reaped the benefit of having a settled line-up, while Quakers' revolving door policy has had the opposite effect.[LNB] Staunton hopes his recruitment during the transfer window will bring stability.[LNB] The boss expects to make a breakthrough in the next few days after revealing that he will offer two League of Ireland players deals until the end of the season.[LNB] Staunton has taken eight players on loan since he took charge on October 5 but he is now determined to build a core squad contracted to Darlington, rather than continuing to call in favours from his contacts in the game.[LNB] He is also clear about the type of personalities he wants.[LNB] We are looking for players with character and experience,[LNB] he confirmed. There will definitely be new players coming in. We've got a balanced squad in terms of age but we haven't got too many characters.[LNB] I've been in football over 20 years and no dressing room is any good without characters.[LNB] You judge them in training.[LNB] You can tell in the first two minutes if they've got anything about them.[LNB] Ideally we want a nucleus of our own players rather than loanees. I've inherited that situation of having to bring people in on a short term basis and we have to get out of that the sooner the better.[LNB] We are looking to get a few in and ideally they will be our own players and we'll use the loan system as a back up.[LNB] Staunton admits to being saddened by the attitude of some of the younger members of his squad, who do not seem to share their manager's values.[LNB] He has taken inspiration from Sir Alex Ferguson, whose ability to constantly update his methods and keep pace with his young charges draws admiration from managers throughout the game.[LNB] Staunton noted: Players nowadays are a different breed. In fact, people in general are. Society is totally different from when I grew up.[LNB] It's not just footballers, young people in general seem to have different values.[LNB] You look at how Sir Alex Ferguson has had to reinvent himself to deal with his players, otherwise you get left behind.[LNB] We label footballers as being people who lack some of the old-fashioned values, but you see it in people from all walks of life in my opinion.[LNB] I don't know how someone like Alex, a man in his 60s, can relate to these youngsters. I'm only 40 I've seen nothing compared to what he must have gone through.[LNB] You have to move with the times but you still must have those same values and show respect because without that everything goes by the wayside.[LNB] Noel Whelan will step up his rehabilitation over the next couple of weeks and Staunton is to line up at least one friendly to give the former Middlesbrough forward a chance to prove his fitness.[LNB] Noel will add character when he comes back, said the manager. He has been there and done it at a high level and is the type of person the younger boys should look up to. He is just the kind of man you need in and around the club.[LNB] Due to the traffic expected at Meadowhall shopping centre today, South Yorkshire Police are advising Darlington supporters heading to the Don Valley Stadium to travel down the A1 to the M18, then on to the M1 exiting at Junction 33.[LNB]
