Source: Northern_Echo
Windass will play again
VETERAN striker Dean Windass has not played his last game, but he will be playing less from now on, says Darlington manager Colin Todd.
The 40-year-old was a surprise omission from the squad on Saturday when Quakers lost 3-0 at Lincoln City.
It was the first time in the league he has not featured either in the starting line-up or on the bench.
As forward Lee Thorpe was injured Windass was expected to return to the line-up, having missed last Tuesday’s game in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy.
Instead the 40-year-old was alongside Todd in the dug-out at Sincil Bank, where he frequently barked out instructions to a team that showed little fight.
Todd explained: “Dean is 40-years-old and has come to the football club to learn management.
“He is finding it difficult and the time has come where he has to start adapting to the art of management.
“There will be a time when he will play again but I think the time has come for him to concentrate on being an assistant manager.
“He would be the first to say he hasn’t performed anywhere near the level people were expecting of him.”
Windass has made five appearances so far and has yet to score.
He also failed to find the net yesterday when playing for Middelsbrough in the national final of the Masters in Liverpool.
Boro were knocked out by Bolton at the semi-final stage of the six-a-side competition.
Meanwhile, Darlington have been drawn away to Leeds United in the second round of the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy.
The game is to be played in the week commencing October 5 and will be the second cup tie between the sides this season following Leeds’ 1-0 win at The Northern Echo Arena in the Carling Cup during August.
Todd said: “It’s a good tie for us and I hope we put in a good performance.
“But we’ve got a lot of tough games coming up before then which are more important than the Leeds game.”
Darlington also faced Leeds in the second round of the competition two years ago, a televised match that the West Yorkshire side won 1-0 at The Northern Echo Arena.
