There is no other way to explain it. David Hodgson and Darlington Football Club were meant for each other.

The amazing events which have unfolded at the Reynolds Arena in recent weeks have written yet another extraordinary chapter in the club's history.

'Never a dull moment' describes the reign of club chairman George Reynolds, which has witnessed a players' walkout from a fans' forum, the 'unveiling' of a Colombian superstar, rumours of Gazza's arrival and the move to a new 25,000 all-seater home.

But the return of Hodgson will take some beating in the shock stakes.

Fans thought they had seen the last of David Hodgson in 2000, when he quit just months after taking Quakers to Wembley for the play-offs. Hodgson thought he had seen the last of Darlington Football Club following a difference of opinion with Reynolds over wages.

So, ahead of his first home game back in charge this afternoon, it was unsurprising when Hodgson admitted yesterday he is still coming to terms with his return.

He said: "It's strange being back on many fronts because due to all the circumstances over the last two or three years nobody in their right mind would have thought that David Hodgson would have ever been invited back to Darlington Football Club."

It was just days before the start of the 2000/01 season when he left the club, saying that his relationship with Reynolds had slowly deteriorated so that he could no longer continue.

"I actually said I left because I was psychologically zonked," said Hodgson. "In a way I was, but the deal at the very beginning was that I would run the football and George would run all the other aspects of the club.

"We stuck to that agreement until certain things started to go wrong towards the end."

This time around - Hodgson's third spell in charge of the Quakers -Reynolds has promised to take a back seat. Had he done the same last time Hodgson may well have remained and who knows where the club - which came tantalising close to the Second Division that day at Wembley - would be today?

"It wasn't until we were going to sign new players that George was changing goalposts," said Hodgson.

"It has probably resulted in us being where we are because a lot has changed for the club.

"George has run his company on his own all his life and he has always had the final say. There may be directors involved but they don't have a say.

"Football is a bit different so we had arguments over certain disagreements. The easiest thing was for me to go and to let him get on with it, which is what happened."

Despite several offers to return to management, Hodgson declined, before taking on a role as Preston North End's European scout.

Shortly after his spell with North End, Hodgson decided to take his family to Argentina for a seven-month break, where he continued to take in games, both in a leisure and business capacity.

"We stayed in Buenos Aires and it was magnificent," said Hodgson.

"I'd only been out there to watch a couple of games and when we moved out there I must have watched over 120 games.

"Had my children settled in school a bit better we probably would have stayed longer."

Hodgson admits it was never in his plans to return to the game as a manager.

But a phone call during the summer put his loyalties to the ultimate test.

"I got a call from an agent who asked me would I be interested in the Hartlepool United manager's job," said Hodgson.

Mike Newell had left Victoria Park and Hodgson said: "My immediate response was that Hartlepool United would never give me that opportunity. But it was three years since I'd left Darlington, and if there was a chance to return to football I'd have to look at it.

"I was told if I put something in writing I would stand a very good chance of getting the job.

"I wrote a letter but I didn't actually request an application. I stated that I'd been out of football for a long time and my desire would be to return to management. The next minute it was all over their press, which I thought was very unprofessional. You just don't do that.

"If somebody asks you - even via a third party - if you're interested why make it public knowledge in the press?

"If I'd been offered the job God only knows whether I'd have accepted it.

"It was nice to be linked with it and have my name mentioned because it makes people aware you're still there.

"I knew what it was. It was Hartlepool and it was us. I'm here now and that's fate."

Helping fate was Feethams, Quakers' grand old home of 120 years.

Earlier this year, Hodgson approached Reynolds with a view to acquiring the unused ground as a sporting venue for the local community.

"Some people were saying I wanted Feethams to take Darlington Football Club there, which is totally untrue," said Hodgson.

"It's a sporting venture which I want to set up and Feethams is the perfect venue."

It was during a meeting about Feethams that Reynolds first tested the water by asking Hodgson if he would ever return to management.

"That's basically what broke a bit of the ice between myself and George Reynolds," said Hodgson.

"He asked whether I wanted to get back into the game.

"I turned around and said 'I did three years ago but you stopped me'."

However, their next conversation was to bring up more than just a passing comment of interest from Reynolds, in the wake of Quakers' fifth straight League defeat at home to Bury at the end of October.

In fact, it was a dignified plea from Reynolds to bury the hatchet for the sake of the club.

Hodgson said: "George called me on the Saturday night after the lads had been beaten at home and said: 'You've got to put your principles to one side here. I'm going to ask you something which I probably thought I would never do. I would like you to come back to the football club'.

"He gave me a few days to think about it and I told him if I was to come Mick (Tait) must stay as well.

"We played it all by the book. Mick stayed and I came."

So how does the Darlington Football Club of 2003 compare to the one he took under his wing when he last started seven years ago?

"I would probably say that it is more difficult now because of the financial aspect," said Hodgson.

"It will be harder but that's what football is all about.

"If I wasn't here somebody else would be and if I'd been given that chance to come here and declined it then, believe me, I would probably have lived to regret it."

Read more about the Quakers here.