A day after winger Alan Morgan returned to Blackburn Rovers, striker Glen Robson was last night released by the club.

Hodgson has allowed Robson to join Durham City on a free transfer after he was deemed surplus to requirements at the Reynolds Arena, 24 hours after the new Quakers boss decided against extending Morgan's one-month loan with the club.

Robson, who joined the club from Blyth Spartans in the summer following a successful trial spell, has struggled to hold down a regular place and with Hodgson keen to create transfer funds, Robson's departure will help loosen the purse strings.

It was Robson's penalty which knocked First Division Bradford City out of the Carling Cup in September.

However, the 25-year-old has found himself down in the pecking order since suffering a hamstring injury.

Despite a day of phone calls yesterday, Hodgson has yet to make his first transfer breakthrough.

The new Quakers boss remains confident of landing at least one new face before Saturday's visit of Lincoln City, with a loan signing from another North-East club his most likely option.

Hodgson has already denied reports linking him with a move for Hartlepool United striker Adam Boyd, while an approach to sign Pool's keeper Anthony Williams in time for last Sunday's FA Cup defeat at Hornchurch was turned down by Neale Cooper.

Defender Ryan Valentine is expected to return at the weekend following a groin injury, while David McGurk and Danny Mellanby begin two-match bans after their dismissals at Oxford.

Goalkeeper Andy Collett looks set to return to training in a fortnight following a punctured lung.

The Imps will be without boss Keith Alexander at the weekend after he collapsed at home and was taken to hospital on Tuesday night.

Alexander underwent surgery yesterday following a brain scan and was last night in a stable condition.

Assistant manager Gary Simpson is expected to take temporary charge of team affairs.

* Darlington reserves beat York City's second string 1-0 at Bootham Crescent yesterday, thanks to a Mark Convery strike.

* Quakers' Third Division clash with York City, scheduled for March 16, has been moved to Saturday, December 6, after both sides were knocked out of the FA Cup.

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