New Darlington boss Tommy Wright delighted with new squad

By Matt Bishop
Darlington‘s new manager Tommy Wright is delighted with the squad he has inherited, calling them a “great bunch of lads.”
The Quakers appointed Wright and his assistant Alan White, who both played for the club, on Friday evening, and the pair met caretaker managers Gary Brown and Phil Turnbull ahead of Darlo’s 2-1 against Bradford Park Avenue.
The win lifted Darlington up to 10th in the National League North, just two points off the play-off spots, and Wright is now excited to start working with his players.
Speaking to the club’s website, the former Nuneaton boss said: “I think we all hit it off straight away when Alan and I walked into the dressing room.
“Some of the lads already knew Alan from his time already at the club, and we all got chatting straight away. I kept what I had to say brief, and told them that they had nothing to lose in that afternoon’s game.
“I reminded them that last season they’d been a team that had finished in the play offs, and to go and win the game.
“I was pleased for Gary Brown and Phil Turnbull, they’ve finished their time in charge in the best possible way with a win, they put a lot of work into the Bradford match on the training ground and in the dressing room.
“I was absolutely delighted for the lads at the end of the game, they’re a great bunch of lads. I missed the first goal, I was still making my way upstairs to the boardroom, I chatted to someone on the way!”
Bradford’s Graham Kelly scored an own-goal just 92 seconds into the game, before Josh Gillies’ looping free-kick doubled Darlo’s lead.
Oli Johnson’s late header made things interesting, but Wright’s new side held on and he was impressed with how they played.
“I thought it was a good performance in tough conditions.” said the former Quakers striker. “We attacked well, and defended well when we had to. I thought we fully deserved to win the game, Bradford didn’t deserve anything.”