IT couldn't be considered the best anniversary present, but when Tommy Taylor walked into the chairman's office at the new Neasham Road Stadium yesterday he knew exactly what was coming.

George Reynolds decided to part company with Taylor almost a year to the day the Londoner took charge at Feethams.

Today would mark Taylor's first year in charge and, the irony in that, is the past 12 months have seen developments off the pitch no Quakers' fans would have deemed possible five years ago.

The new 25,000 all-seater stadium of the future is almost complete and fans will be able to bask in the knowledge that they have the best premises in Division Three.

But on the pitch the team is no further forward than when Reynolds surprised many fans by announcing Taylor as the man to take over from the beleaguered Gary Bennett.

That appears to be the root of the problem at Darlington FC.

The club is two divisions above itself in its outlook but where it matters - on the playing side - they are still well and truly stuck in Division Three mode.

Taylor was a players' man and on paper his side appear more than capable of holding their own in Division Three, but it appears they could do little else.

When Bennett left Feethams Quakers were in ninth place. Today they are 20th.

While not yet a club in crisis, Quakers appear to heading in the wrong direction.

But what happens when they move to Neasham Road at the end of the season?

Home crowds began the season approaching 4,000 and they are now hovering around 3,000 as the fans have voted with their feet on the entertainment being served up at Feethams.

Similar numbers next season will have the crowd rattling inside the new ground.

The current squad of players appears not good enough to move Darlington up the league, so changes are undoubtedly needed.

Taylor has been searching for a new striker since the season began, but even though names like Luke Beckett and former fans' favourite Marco Gabbiadini have been linked, no-one has materialised.

In Reynolds' favour he has acted decisively rather than allow the side to hang around the wrong end of the division until Christmas.

But statements like: "He's gone now - thank God," do him and the club no favours.

The club have the best crop of youngsters seen at Feethams for a long time, and talent like Adam Rundle, David McGurk and Mark Sheeran are the future of the club.

But whoever takes charge must be given the financial muscle to bring in more experienced players capable of performing at a higher level.

Read more about the Quakers here.