Darlington

Darlington sign Whitby goalkeeper
Darlington have completed the signing of goalkeeper Jack Norton from UniBond League side Whitby Town. Norton, who started his career as a trainee with the Quakers, has signed a one-month deal. Darlington boss Dave Penney made his move for the 19-year-old to provide cover for David Stockdale at the League Two outfit. Stockdale took over between the posts earlier this month following an injury to Sam Russell.

Darlington 0-2 Mansfield
Darlington's miserable run of form continued as Mansfield ran out easy winners condemning the Quakers to their sixth straight defeat. Mansfield took the lead after only four minutes when captain Richie Barker fired into an empty net after keeper David Stockdale's mis-kick. The visitors missed chance after chance in a one-sided affair. And Nathan Arnold fired in Mansfield's second when he raced clear and fired a low drive past Stockdale from 10 yards. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Darlington: Stockdale, Close, Collins, Albrighton (Duke 46), James, Griffith (Carlos Logan 58), Ngoma, Cummins, Smith, Reay, Johnson (Josh Wright 85). Subs Not Used: Norton, McLeod. Booked: Collins, Duke. Mansfield: White, Jelleyman, Baptiste, Buxton, Mullins, Hamshaw (Arnold 20), D'Laryea, Coke (Lloyd 90), Michael Boulding (Beardsley 74), Barker, Brown. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subs Not Used: Muggleton, Wood. Goals: Barker 5, Arnold 62. Att: 3,808 Ref: M Pike (Cumbria).

Bury v Darlington
There will be a pitch inspection at Gigg Lane on Monday morning as more heavy rain is forecast overnight. Bury are waiting on the fitness of Dwayne Mattis (knock) and Andy Bishop (knee) after both picked up injuries during Saturday's defeat at Barnet. Darlington trio Alun Armstrong, David Duke and Anthony Peacock should be well enough to travel to Bury after missing out at the weekend with flu. Phil Stamp, Joey Hutchinson and Mark Albrighton all stay on the sidelines.

Penney thrilled with Darlo win
Darlington manager Dave Penney believes the 2-1 win at Bristol Rovers on Tuesday was their most impressive performance for three months. He said: "I thought we played some very good football and there were some very good passing moves throughout the game. "That was the best we've played since we won at Lincoln City in November. "Gregg Blundell showed what he is capable of because he is very good at playing off a defender's shoulder, and Micky Cummins' was no fluke."

Barnet 2-1 Darlington
Liam Hatch's late winner for Barnet dented Darlington's play-off hopes on a miserable afternoon for the visitors. The Quakers were up against it when Tommy Wright was sent off after just 55 seconds for elbowing Simon King. Dean Sinclair cashed in to put Barnet ahead two minutes later, only for Darlington to level through David Wheater's header. Hatch secured the points for Barnet after losing his marker and prodding home Nicky Bailey's free-kick. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Barnet: Harrison, Bailey, King (Warhurst 46), Gross (Hendon 86), Hatch, Sinclair, Yakubu, Devera, Nicolau, Cogan, Birchall (Grazioli 90). Subs Not Used: Flitney, Allen. Booked: Devera. Goals: Sinclair 4, Hatch 52. Darlington: Russell, Phillips, Wainwright, Blundell (Armstrong 78), Smith (Prendergast 77), Wiseman, Rowson, Wright, Horwood (Joachim 67), Wheater, Ravenhill. Subs Not Used: Stockdale, Collins. Sent Off: Wright (2). Booked: Phillips, Smith, Ravenhill. Goals: Wheater 22. Att: 2,364. Ref: R Lee (Essex).

Penney lauds inconsistent winger
Darlington manager Dave Penney saluted Neil Wainwright after his two goals in the win over Wycombe but admitted the winger is a source of frustration. Penney explained: "Wainy can be very up and down. "He has got to get some consistency in his game. That has probably stopped him pushing on to a higher level. "He can open it up for you and score goals for you and he did that and he deserved his man of the match award," Penney told the club's website.

Quintet are released by Quakers
Darlington boss Dave Penney has announced that five players will be released this summer. Defenders Darren Holloway and Kalusivikako Ngoma, both 29, will both be leaving the Teesside club. Also departing is fellow defender Craig James, 24, who ended the season on loan at Conference side York. The other two departures are Brian Close, 25, who can play in defence or midfield, and former Manchester City winger Carlos Logan, 21.

Darlington offer five new deals
Darlington boss Dave Penney has offered new contracts to just five players as he looks to shake up the squad. Penney has offered deals to goalkeepers Sam Russell and David Stockdale, midfielders Clark Keltie and Ricky Ravenhill and defender Kevin Burgess. Eight other players remain under contract from last season's squad. They are Patrick Collins, Tim Ryan, Michael Cummins, Martin Smith, Tommy Wright, Gregg Blundell, Julian Joachim and Neil Wainwright.

Quakers swoop for defensive duo
Darlington have lured defenders Stephen Foster and Alan White to the club. Foster, 26, will arrive from Scunthorpe after helping them to the League One title and a place in the Championship. The 31-year-old White is to leave Notts County with the pair set to complete their moves on 1 July when their current deals come to an end. Darlington boss by Dave Penney managed Foster at Doncaster and said: "It has been no secret one of my priorities was to strengthen the back four."

Sunderland set to take on Quakers
Sunderland will begin their pre-season preparations ahead of their return to the Premiership with a friendly against Darlington on 18 July. The match will be the Black Cats' first visit to the Darlington Arena. Roy Keane's side will then take on League One champions Scunthorpe at Glanford Park on 21 July. Sunderland depart for their tour of the Republic of Ireland soon after and play Bohemians (28 July), Cork City (30 July) and Galway United (1 August).

Darlington bag ex-Swansea keeper
Darlington have signed former Swansea goalkeeper Andy Oakes. The 33-year-old is the second keeper to be confirmed as part of the squad for next season after David Stockdale extended his stay with the Quakers. Oakes joined Swansea a year ago after coming to the end of his contract with Walsall, but was released last month. The experienced keeper began his career at Macclesfield and has also had played for Hull and Derby and had loans spells with Port Vale and Bolton.

Brown named Quakers' chief scout
Darlington boss Dave Penney has continued his shake-up by appointing Nigel Brown as their new chief scout. Brown, 60, has previously held similar posts at Blackburn Rovers, Wigan Athletic and Coventry City. "He is very experienced and an important part of the game is having the right contacts," said Penney. Penney recently confirmed that Martin Gray would stay on as his assistant manager and has already signed half a dozen new players with more to come.

Rescue plan for struggling club
An ambitious plan to ensure the financial future of troubled Darlington Football Club has been unveiled. The League Two club is struggling with big losses - estimated to be about £2m for the current financial year. The club was brought out of a spell of administration in November 2004 by a consortium headed by local businessman George Houghton. But unless a £30m hotel and leisure development is approved, officials say the club faces an uncertain future. Darlington Council is being asked to back a major redevelopment project, which would see a 100-bed hotel, sporting village and offices created on an expanded site. Wealthy benefactor The club has already won permission to hold concerts in the stadium and also wants to increase parking facilities. In its submission to the council, the club says the plans could generate an extra £1.37m a year. A club spokesman said: "It goes with out saying that until Darlington Football Club can meet its ever-growing deficiency between income and expenditure there will always be a reliance on a wealthy benefactor. "However, industry now recognises that these individuals are few and far between and without one, Darlington would soon be plunged back into administration. "The alternative to the implementation of this business plan would be that the club reduces costs to the point that an inevitable return to non-league football would be the only way forward and this would drastically reduce the profile of both the club and town."

Abbott joins Quakers from Swans
Darlington have signed striker Pawel Abbott from Swansea City for £100,000. The former Poland Under-21 star, 25, has put pen to paper on a two-year deal. Abbott scored 51 goals in 126 games during a three-year spell at Huddersfield Town before moving to Swansea in January for £150,000. Quakers boss Dave Penney told the club website: "Pawel is a proven goal-scorer at this level and higher. He's a player who will excite the fans." Abbott signed a two-and-a-half year deal with Swansea just six months ago. But the new arrival at the Liberty Stadium of Jason Scotland from St Johnstone and the probable signing of Darryl Duffy from Hull, combined with Lee Trundle's presence, left Abbott down the Swans pecking order of strikers. Abbott joins another former Swan, Andy Oakes, at the Darlington Arena after the goalkeeper was released by the Welsh club in June.

Darlington sign defender Barrau
Darlington have completed the signing of former Bradford City and Airdrie winger Xavier Barrau. The 25-year-old Frenchman has joined the Quakers on a contract until January after impressing during a trial spell with the League Two leaders. Manager Dave Penney told Darlington's website: "I have liked what I have seen of Xavier in training and the reserve games he's played. "We were still a little light on the left-hand side." Penney added: "Xavier will give us extra competition for places."

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