A potentially busy day of transfer activity at Darlington came to nothing yesterday when Quakers turned down approaches for two players while another rebuffed an offer to drop into non-league football.
Kidderminster Harriers were knocked back in their attempt to sign Neil Wainwright, while Nationwide Conference club York City had their hopes of taking both Clark Keltie and David McGurk to Bootham Crescent dashed.
Wainwright, a £65,000 signing from Sunderland in 2001 and the last ever player to score at Feethams, could leave on a free transfer at the end on the season when he is out of contract.
Struggling Harriers, second bottom of League Two, wanted to take the 27-year-old winger immediately on a free transfer but manager David Hodgson blocked the approach.
McGurk has recovered after an operation on his knee and York wanted to take the defender on loan, as they did earlier this season, but Hodgson turned the Minstermen down, saying he wants the Teessider to fight for his place with Darlington.
But Keltie turned down the opportunity to join York on loan, despite Darlington accepting the offer, preferring instead to compete for a place in Quakers' midfield.
The Newcastle-born 21-year-old has found first-team opportunities limited this season, especially since the arrivals of Adolfo Gregorio and Adrian Webster, both of whom are expected to sign new contracts before Saturday's trip to Northampton.
Since arriving earlier this season the midfield pair have been on three-month deals which are due to expire following the game at Sixfields, but Hodgson aims to finalise new contracts lasting until the end of this season, including a further one-year option.
Quakers will play Leeds United in a behind-closed-doors game at the Williamson Motors Stadium next week. With no reserve fixtures until the following week, the practice match will provide several players the opportunity to step up their fitness. David McGurk and Stephen Thomas are likely to figure after returning from injury.
Likewise, Leeds boss Kevin Blackwell intends to run the rule over Seth Johnson and Eirik Bakke after the pair recently returned from long-term injury lay-offs.
Former Quakers winger Adam Rundle has joined League Two rivals Mansfield Town on a one-month loan.
The 20-year-old has been playing in the Irish Premier League for Dublin City since leaving Carlisle United last season. Rundle made 17 appearances for Quakers before moving to Brunton Park on a free transfer two years ago.
Another ex-Quaker, midfielder Richard Hodgson, has been told he can leave Cambridge United after less than three months at the Abbey Stadium. Hodgson joined the Us after successful spells in the Football League Conference with Farnborough, Stevenage and Forest Green.
Read more about the Quakers here.
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