Todd brings in ten

by Scott Thornberry - 13th July 2009

todd brings in ten

The Quakers boss has convinced 10 players to sign up at the Northern Echo Arena, pending the League Two club successfully coming out of administration, while also persuading three senior players and four young professionals to re-sign. 

And Todd is also hoping to sign more before the season kicks off at Aldershot on August 8, as well as bringing in top young players on loan from the likes of Sunderland, Newcastle and Middlesbrough. 

Skipper Steve Foster and defender Ian Miller have been retained by Todd, as well as young goalkeeper Nick Liversedge. 

He has also come to agreements with 10 new players including well-known striker Dean Windass as player-coach, who was released by Hull at the end of last season, former Middlesbrough players David Knight, the goalkeeper, and midfielder Gary Smith, as well as Polish Under-20 defender Ben Starosta, released by Championship club Sheffield United this summer.  

Left-back Craig James is set to return to Darlington after previous spells with the club, while Todd also plans to sign experienced ex-Rochdale striker Lee Thorpe, young defender Matty Plummer, released by Hull, ex-Sunderland midfielder Chris Lumsdon and midfielders Jeff Smith, formerly of Bolton, and James Bennett, also released by Hull this summer.

It means Todd began pre-season training this morning (Thursday) with 17 players, but is hoping to put together a squad of more than 20, mixing experience with youth, ready for the start of the 2009-10 campaign. 

Todd said: “I’m pleased with the progress we have made already, under the circumstances. It sends out a clear message that Darlington Football Club is well on the way to getting out of the mess it was in. 

“The players we’ve potentially signed up to now, including the lads who were with us last season, provide me with a good blend of experience and youth. We have some lads who have been around, played for a few clubs at a top level, while we also have young, hungry players who are desperate to do well. 

“It gives me a good foundation to build on, but we’ll hopefully have one or two new faces in between now and the start of the season, including another striker, and I‘ll be looking to bring players in on loan from the bigger local clubs, such as Sunderland, Middlesbrough and Newcastle. 

“It’s great to have made this progress already, although there is still a lot to do, but hopefully this is just the start of a new beginning for the club.”