Darlington manager David Hodgson admits the club's crippling financial situation may force the sale of striker Barry Conlon.

With reported debts of £20m, Hodgson has reluctantly conceded that the club will listen to offers for Quakers' leading scorer.

Former Hartlepool boss Chris Turner has failed with an attempt to take Conlon, 25, to Sheffield Wednesday on loan, while rivals Macclesfield this week had a £35,000 bid turned down.

Hartlepool, Rushden and Swan-sea have also confirmed their interest in the Dublin-born forward. But Conlon has told Hodgson he will see out his contract, which expires at the end of the season.

While administrators Wilson-Field are entrusting Hodgson with all transfer decisions, the boss admits the club may be left with little option but to sell Conlon.

"If a big enough offer did come along then we would have to seriously consider it," said Hodgson.

"We have received offers for Baz this week but none which we feel are acceptable.

"I've spoken to Baz and his immediate concern is to do well for Darlington Football Club.

"He is out of contract at the end of the season but we'll deal with that a bit nearer the time.

"If he does decide to go then, now is a good chance for him to put himself in the shop window by scoring goals for this club.

"It would be massively disappointing to let Baz go."

Conlon's last goal came against former club York in December. But Hodgson remains confident he is the man to fire Quakers to safety, starting with today's visit of Rochdale to the Reynolds Arena.

"You know Baz will get you goals and if I was anywhere else he would be one player I'd want in my team," said Hodgson.

"At this level it is important to have a big target man in the team and that's what Baz is.

"The goals have dried up for him lately but I'm sure they will come."

With third-bottom Southend earning a point at home to York in midweek, Quakers are now four points adrift of safety.

"If ever there was a time Quakers needed the big Irishman's goals then this is it.

Hodgson will be hoping that gap is reduced to just a point today.

"I've said that every game is massive for us and this one is certainly no different," said Hodgson.

"There's no way we can afford to fall any further behind and we must start by taking three points against Rochdale.

"We didn't play as well as we have done at Kidderminster but we still managed to come away with a point.

"We've taken a couple of good points away from home but we really need to start making our home advantage count more."

Quakers have lost their last three home games by the same 1-0 scoreline.

For the second time in a fortnight, Hodgson was yesterday thwarted in his attempts to land Sunderland striker Neil Teggart on loan.

The Northern Ireland Under-19 star has agreed to join Quakers for a month but Hodgson saw the move blocked by a Football League ruling, which states that clubs in administration are not allowed to exceed a 20-player squad limit.

Quakers currently have 20 professionals, although Hodgson is in the process of terminating the contracts of two unnamed players.

However, Quakers have yet to receive the necessary paperwork from the PFA to complete the formalities of their release, thus holding up Teggart's switch to the Reynolds Arena.

"It is a big disappointment but I'm still confident I have the players capable of beating Rochdale," said Hodgson.

"Hopefully, when the paperwork is complete, we can bring Neil in early next week."

Defender Joey Hutchinson - linked with a move to Second Division Swindon this week - returns from suspension, with David McGurk likely to make way.

Wing-back Ryan Valentine serves a one-match ban after picking up his fifth booking of the season at Kidderminster a fortnight ago.

Clark Keltie has recovered from a knee injury and is back in contention but the Newcastle-born midfielder may have to settle for a place on the bench.

Rochdale will hand a debut to striker Grant Holt, signed yesterday from Sheffield Wednesday for an undisclosed fee.

Former Hartlepool midfielder Chris Beech is a doubt for Dale with a calf strain. Boss Steve Parkin - now in his second spell at Spotland - is without Leo Burtos, who is away on international duty with the New Zealand Under-23 squad.

Northern Ireland striker Lee McEvilly, who scored twice in Dale's 4-2 win over Quakers this season, is on loan at Accrington Stanley.