Last Season
Really rather promising for the Quakers, until George Houghton pulled the plug and put the side into administration, with the 10 point deduction making sure that Dave Penney's side would miss out on the play-off place which they looked certain to win. It all started so well, as Penney's solid and neat side started strongly and continued that way until administration. With Steve Foster's calm head in defence alongside Alan White's strength and Ricky Ravenhill's all action play in midfield allowing Jason Kennedy to pull the strings. Liechtenstein international Franz Burgmeier's sweet left foot provided chances on a platter for target man Liam Hatch and Billy Clarke and latterly the superb Pawel Abbott providing the goals.
Penney's side were hard to break down but in Kennedy, Burgmeier and Clarke/Abbott had a trio of players with genuine class who could open teams up in the blink of an eye, and were possibly the most balanced of all League Two sides last season. In truth the Quakers should probably have gained a top seven place, deduction or no deduction. They struggled after administration though and with an injury plagued squad who weren't getting paid losing motivation, talented youngsters such as Curtis Main and Corey Barnes were given a chance by Penney. Come the end of the season and Penney left for Oldham and the Quakers' squad was slowly and painfully dismantled. White to Luton, Neil Austin to Hartlepool, Ravenhill to Notts, Kennedy to Rochdale, Burgmeier to FC Vaduz and Abbott to Oldham with Penney. All on free transfers, although it's hard to have any sympathy with a club who have alienated local businesses in the way the Quakers' less than 1p in the pound CVA offer has.
The Manager
Colin Todd is the man charged with pretty much totally rebuilding Darlington's squad, with the former Bradford City and Bolton Wanderers (amongst others) boss having brought in Dean Windass as his player/assistant. Todd started his managerial career at Middlesbrough before he joined Bolton Wanderers and lead them to a promotion and play-off final in his time at the Reebok Stadium. He struggled at Swindon Town and Derby County before his spell at Bradford City, where he lead the Bantams to successive solid finishes before being sacked in February 2007 after a run of poor results. An uneventful spell at Danish side FC Randers followed, before he re-emerged in English football at the Darlington Arena last month.
He has a tough job on with the Quakers' squad having been decimated by administration, but he has made a number of signings in a bid to at least have a team to field by the start of the season. Windass could be an inspired choice as player-assistant but could equally be a complete disaster and Todd's spell outside of English football means he could have become 'out of the loop' so to speak with regards to the English game.
The Squad
Darlington still have a tiny squad that will presumably be improved by the start of the season, but it looks like a mere shadow of Penney's side of last season. In goal will be former Middlesbrough 'keeper David Knight who has failed to get a game at either Swansea City or Mansfield Town since leaving the Riverside, with his only back up being untested youngster Nick Liversidge. The Quakers do look strong in defence however, with a partnership of captain Steve Foster and Ian Miller being one of the strongest in the division. Ben Starosta and Craig James hardly provide ample assistance, however.
In midfield Chris Lumsdon from Carlisle should prove to be a solid signing (if he doesn't move on as quickly as he joined, having been linked with a move away in recent days), while Gary Smith is a quality player if he can be kept fit. As Notts foundout with Adam Nowland last season, the words 'if you can keep him fit' mean that he's never going to be fit again. Winger Jeff Smith has colourful boots and a step over but little else, and the Quakers may find themselves relying on promising youth team prospects Josh Gray and Corey Barnes, but League Two football is probably a step too far at their tender ages. Upfront Windass is surely not going to last forever and if the plan is to partner him with Lee Thorpe then Darlington find themselves with the slowest strike force in Football League history. Promising youngster Curtis Main has interested Premiership clubs recently and will be looking to make an impact this season.
Prediction
The pairing of Foster and Miller in centre half is so good that it means the Quakers' lack of quality and numbers elsewhere will not prove to be fatal, and Todd's side should be relatively safe. Lee Thorpe and Dean Windass are seasoned pros and whilst it is unlikely they'll provide a huge amount of goals they will, at least, provide problems for opposition defences, whilst Lumsdon is good but probably won't be able to play in midfield on his own. A reliance on youngsters, a lack of players and the general turmoil surrounding Darlington will mean the Quakers are set for their worst season in a while, however.
18th