Source: Northern_Echo
Wembley match-winner is released by Darlington
Darlington's Wembley hero Chris Senior spoke of his disappointment last night after being released by the club - just four days after scoring arguably the greatest goal in Quakers' history. Senior's dramatic 120th minute strike in Saturday's FA Trophy win at Wembley secured the club's first piece of silverware for 20 years and has secured him a place in the Darlington's folklore. The goal was his last touch of the game against Mansfield, but it has also proven to be his last for Darlington as manager Mark Cooper has revealed a ruthless streak by axing the 29-year-old striker. Cooper has chosen not to offer a new deal to Senior who arrived during Simon Davey's 77-day reign as manager last year. The manager told Senior of the decision yesterday at The Northern Echo Arena, less than hour before the squad appeared at a civic reception in front of thousands of supporters. As he stood on stage in Darlington's market square, few of the fans, if any, knew of Cooper's decision which came on a day in which he also released wingers Chris Moore and Josh Gray. Speaking to The Northern Echo last night, a deeply disappointed Senior said: "Up until 5.55pm today it had been the best week of my life. "I'd come back from injury, trained for three or four days last week and was hoping to get into the squad at Wembley because the gaffer had a big decision to make regarding who was going to be on the bench. Luckily I got the nod and scored a bit of a special goal. "Sunday, Monday and Tuesday was a bit of a comedown after what had happened on Saturday. "Then I came back into the club today, was looking forward to tonight and then at five to six I get hit with a bombshell that I've been released from my contract for next season. "I was hoping that the importance of the goal I scored on Saturday would go some way towards earning a new contract. "The importance of the goal, for the club and the town, if there had been a bit of indecision from the gaffer, then it might have gone some way towards giving me an extension on my contract." Senior played in 35 of Darlington's 56 matches, scoring seven goals, including one in the memorable win at AFC Wimbledon last October. A knee injury sustained in training kept him sidelined throughout Janaury and February, and he said: "I had a bit of a bad season with injuries and missed a few games. "It wasn't through lack of endeavour that I missed those games though. Obviously nobody wants to be injured or not playing." He missed the last four league matches after sustaining a calf strain, but recovered just in time for the FA Trophy final. He says he will look back fondly on his time with Quakers, and he added: "Obviously I'm disappointed right now, but I'll look back with fond memories and nobody can take away from the fact I was part of the team that brought the first trophy back to Darlo for 20 years. "I was part of the team and scored the winning goal in the last minute of extra-time - no Hollywood scriptwriter could have written that. "My last touch of the ball for Darlington was a winner at Wembley - there's not many players who have been released after scoring with their last touch. "I'm disappointed because I think next season Darlo have got a great chance of getting promotion and I wanted to be part of it. Unfortunately I'm going to be at another club and looking out for Darlo's results." Despite the circumstances of his leaving the Arena, Senior says he bears no resentment towards Cooper. He said: "It's the gaffer's decision and only time will tell if he's made the right one or not. "I'm not going to fall out with him, I get on really well with the gaffer and Richard Dryden too. He's a good guy, he was honest with me and he's got the club's interest at heart, but unfortunately he doesn't see me in his plans. "I just thought there was more to come from me next season. "If you'd told me immediately after Saturday's game that I would be getting released I wouldn't have cared, but things have calmed down now. Now the hard work starts for me and I've got find a new club. "But it's not a bad time to get released after scoring the winner at Wembley - there'll have been a few managers watching so I'm on the radar." Cooper, who says he has already spoken to potential new players, explained he made the decision before Saturday's win at Wembley, he said: "I have to do it to some players that have been with me all season and have been great to work with but it's part of the job. "I've only got a certain amount of money to spend and I have make sure I use it in the right way. "It's the horrible part of the job but you can't let one goal change your decision. "I'd done it before Saturday. I have to bring in two or three strikers that I know will get us goals and get us promotion next season." Right-back Paul Arnison is to stay at the club after being offered a new one-year deal.