Source: Northern_Echo
Promotion hat-trick is the target of new signing
HAVING already been involved in two successful Blue Square Bet Premier promotion campaigns, Michael Brough is hoping to complete a notable hat-trick after becoming Mark Cooper's first signing as Darlington manager. Brough penned a one-year deal at the Northern Echo Arena yesterday to complete a permanent transfer from fellow non-leaguers Mansfield Town. The versatile 28-year-old, who can play in central midfield or as part of the back four, was a member of the squad that earned Torquay United promotion into League Two two seasons ago. And while he ended last season at Mansfield, he made six loan appearances for eventual champions Stevenage Borough at the beginning of the campaign. I've been around this league a while now and I know what it takes to get out of it, said Brough, who made more than 100 Football League appearances for Notts County after turning professional in 1998. It's a tough, physical league, but that's what I'm used to. I was part of a promotionwinning team when I was at Torquay, and I had a good month with Stevenage last season. They wanted to extend my loan at that time, but unfortunately it didn't happen because of the situation with Torquay. I know what it takes to be successful at this level, and I think that's probably part of the reason why the manager has chosen to bring me here. Yesterday events represented a successful resolution to a 12-month pursuit that Cooper began when he was manager of Kettering Town. The Quakers boss tried to prise Brough from Torquay last summer, and while he was unsuccessful on that occasion, he was quick to make a renewed approach after being installed at Darlington last week. When the gaffer got the job, he rang me straight away, said Brough. He tried to sign me for Kettering at the start of last season and he knows me from being around this level. There were a few clubs in this league interested in signing me, but I didn't have to think much once Darlington got in touch. I'm ambitious and I want success, and I think there's a good chance of achieving that here with Mark in charge. There's only one thing we're going to be interested in this season, and that's promotion. I'm joining a club that has everything in place to be in League Two. I'd heard a lot about the stadium, but it's only when you see it that you realise just what a big club this is. It'll be a tough season ahead of us, but there's no reason at all why we can't be successful.