Darlington

Darlington hoping to sign Preece
Darlington manager Dave Hodgson wants to re-sign former Quakers goalkeeper David Preece. Hodgson wants Aberdeen keeper Preece to provde competition for Sam Russell and told Darlington's website: "I'd have Preecy back tomorrow. "I think he is an excellent character, his training is fantastic and he is more than capable of pushing Sam for his jersey." Preece, 28, had two years at Darlington before leaving for Aberdeen in 1999.

Darlington end interest in Connor
Darlington will not move for Swansea striker Paul Connor after finding out that a transfer fee is required. "I did speak to Swansea manager Kenny Jackett about Connor, but it ended there," Darlington manager Dave Hodgson told the club's official website. "I was misinformed or misled that the player had been freed. "He hasn't been freed and Swansea want a transfer fee for him. As far as I'm concerned that is out of the equation, without doubt."

Spireites win the race for Larkin
Chesterfield have beaten a host of clubs including Darlington and Chester to sign Mansfield striker Colin Larkin. The 23-year-old fell out with Stags boss Carlton Palmer near the end of last season and has now signed a two-year deal with the Spireites. "There was plenty of competition from other clubs for his signature," Chesterfield boss Roy McFarland said. "He is another important part of the jigsaw as we look to enhance the team with more quality players."

Quakers target four new players
Darlington manager Dave Hodgson wants to sign four more players before he completes his squad for next season. Hodgson missed out on striker Colin Larkin, who opted for Chesterfield, but has plenty of others players in mind. "I've only got room for another four players," said Hodgson. "That might sound easy but I have got to make sure I find the right four players. "I lost out on Larkin but I know of two better than him, whether I can convince them to come remains to be seen." The Quakers missed on the League Two play-offs on goal difference last season and Hodgson maintains that no major surgery to his squad is needed. He added: "I think we have kept the base of what was, although we have lost one or two players I would have liked to have kept."

Hodgson unsure on Russell future
Darlington boss Dave Hodgson has admitted that keeper Sam Russell is pondering his future with the Quakers. The 22-year-old was an ever-present for the League Two club last season and attracted interest - including Stoke. "Sam had a good season with us and we have to accept there will be clubs interested in signing him," Hodgson told the Northern Echo newspaper. Meanwhile, Hodgson said he is keen to secure a deal for Darlington's veteran defender Curtis Fleming, 36.

Hodgson hoping for settled side
Darlington boss Dave Hodgson hopes he will be able to field a more settled side this season - rather than having to chop and change his line-up. "I was trying to get consistency last year," he told the club website. "I knew I couldn't get it from a group of players over 10 or 15 games, but I knew I could get it for four - and then I had to change it for the next four. "Now I want a squad of 11 players who I know are going to be there week in, week out unless they are injured."

Quakers move for Aiston collapses
Former Shrewsbury winger Sam Aiston's propsed move to Darlington has fallen through after failing to agree terms. Aiston, 28, was not prepared to accept the 12-month contract offered by Quakers' boss David Hodgson. Hodgson told Darlo's website: "The length of contract Sam wanted in reference to how we wanted to structure it just never materialised." Hodgson will focus his attentions elsewhere as he looks to keep his pledge of bringing in four new players.

Hodgson mulls over move for Bossu
Darlington boss Dave Hodgson is planning to hold talks with Gillingham goalkeeper Bertrand Bossu in the near future over a possible move. The 24-year-old keeper has been at Gillingham since the summer of 2003, but has played just eight games for the Kent club. Last season, Bossu went out on loan to Torquay, where he played two games at the start of last season. Bossu has also played for Rushden & Diamonds, Hayes and Barnet.

Petta finally signs for Bradford
Bradford City have signed former Ipswich and Celtic winger Bobby Petta. The 30-year-old agreed a two-year deal at Bradford after the move previously looked to have fallen through. The 30-year-old Dutchman finished last season at Darlington, having also played in England for Fulham during a loan spell two seasons ago. Bradford boss Colin Todd had previously tried to sign Petta when he was in charge at Bolton six years ago, only for the player to move to Celtic. It appeared at the end of May as though the deal had collapsed - with Todd blaming Petta's agent. "The biggest problem is always the agent," Todd told the Telegraph & Argus. "I do think we could do a deal but it's the other demands on top."

Darlington agree deal for Johnson
Darlington have completed the signing of striker Simon Johnson from Leeds on a two-year deal. The 22-year-old has become the club's first summer signing after talks with manager David Hodgson. Hodgson told the club's website: "Simon is a young talented striker and has good experience of League football and will be a key member of our squad. "We've been trailing him for some time and I'm delighted that he's decided to join Darlington." Hodgson added: "We are still in talks with our other targets and hope to have some more good news for the fans in the next few weeks."

Fans to decide Quakers game date
Darlington will let their fans decide when they play their home match against Notts County in September. Supporters can choose either the evening of Friday 2 September or a 1pm kick-off the next day to avoid a clash with the Wales-England game in Cardiff. Fans have until 1 July to text their votes and boss David Hodgson told the club website: "Many will want to see our matches and the England games. "We want to know what their preference is on how to do that."

Mansfield win the race for Tipton
Mansfield have won the race for the services of former Macclesfield and Wales Under-21 striker Matthew Tipton. Tipton, 24, has agreed a deal with the Stags after pulling out of a proposed move to League Two rivals Bury. Former Oldham striker Tipton was also understood to be a target for Darlington after being released by Macclesfield at the end of last season. Stags boss Carlton Palmer is also close to completing a deal for a keeper to replace the departed Kevin Pilkington.

Burton set to sign winger Gilroy
Burton are set to sign former Darlington and Scarborough winger Keith Gilroy on a two-year deal. Gilroy, 21, will become Brewers boss Nigel Clough's first summer recruit subject to passing a medical next week. "We're delighted a player of Keith's calibre has agreed to join - he'll give us more quality and creativity," Clough told the Burton Mail. Gilroy spent two years at Scarborough before joining Darlington for a short spell at the end of last season. However, he was released after only making two appearances for the Quakers.

Preece set to learn future soon
Former Darlington goalkeeper David Preece expects to learn in the next two weeks whether he will rejoin the club. Preece, who moved to Aberdeen in 1999, told Darlington's website: "I have spoken to Darlington but that is as far as things have gone so far. "I speak to manager Dave Hodgson all the time. He was the first person on the phone to see what the situation was when I was told I could leave Aberdeen. "I would expect things to pick up in the next couple of weeks."

Darlington admit talks with Duke
Assistant boss Mark Proctor admits that Darlington have held talks with Swindon midfielder David Duke - but has played down any talk of an imminent move. Duke, 26, has been offered a new one-year deal by the Robins but is yet to decide on his future. "I didn't meet David. Hodgy (manager Dave Hodgson met him," Proctor told the Quakers' website. "I'm not exactly sure where it is at, but I think it is still ongoing, along with three or four others." With many players' contracts having expired at the end of June, Proctor feels that clubs may now be in a better negotiating position. "I've had numerous agents on to me over the last three of four days trying to find placements for their players, because people are starting to panic now," he explained. "If you are one of those thousand-odd players on the PFA list with no income coming in, it can be a little bit anxious for you."

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