DAVID HODGSON, the charismatic manager of Darlington Football Club, is to launch his biography in the town this weekend.

The Quakers boss will be signing copies of Three Times a Quaker in the Ottakar's book store, in the Cornmill Centre, on Saturday, from 10am to noon.

The book tells the story of Mr Hodgson's battles with club owners, including ex-chairman George Reynolds, and his quest to bring glory to one of the English game's most northerly outposts.

Mr Hodgson's playing career saw him become one of the most enigmatic footballers produced by the North-East.

He played under managers such as Bob Paisley and Jack Charlton, and starred on the field alongside the likes of Ian Rush, Graeme Souness and Kenny Dalglish.

He went on to forge a career as an agent, bringing about 80 players to Britain, before taking the hot-seat at Darlington.

His first spell in charge lasted only eight months, but he returned to build a team that reached the Third Division play-off final at Wembley in 2000, only to suffer an agonising defeat to Peterborough United.

Mr Hodgson walked out after Mr Reynolds publicly exposed the club's wage structure and the Quakers suffered a downturn in their fortunes - as a new £20m home was being built in Neasham Road.

Last October, with the club in crisis even before plunging into administration, the fans' favourite responded to a plea to take the helm again.

Having survived the threat of closure, the 44-year-old is now in charge of a team on the up, in the upper reaches of League Two.

* Three Times a Quaker, written by local journalists Ray Simpson and Andrew Wilkinson, will cost £13.99.