Chairman George Reynolds has promised to make no mistakes when appointing a successor to Tommy Taylor, who was sacked as Darlington boss yesterday.

Reynolds refused to be drawn on possible names to take over the Feethams' hotseat, but took the opportunity to assure fans that the next man in charge will be appointed with the most careful of thought.

"We will not make any mistakes, we're going to look for a good manager who is going to take us further towards where we want to go," said Reynolds.

"There are thousands of players and managers out there and I'm sure the phone will be alive tomorrow and applications will come in, and we'll go through them thoroughly and methodically."

Reynolds unveiled former Cambridge and Leyton Orient boss Taylor as Gary Bennett's replacement a year ago today, but the Essex-born manager failed to produce the sustained promotion fight his chairman demanded.

Taylor last night spoke of his disappointment, especially after nurturing the clubs younger players, some of whom starred in Quakers' narrow 1-0 defeat at Stockport on Tuesday night in the LDV Vans Trophy.

"I worked hard on bringing the younger players through and Tuesday night's game was a massive plus for the club and for me because it showed everybody just how far they have come on.

"I was so proud of the way they played - we played well enough to beat a second division side.

"Tuesday night was the destiny of Darlington Football Club. The club lies in the hands of the young players coming through. I just wish I could be a part of it because those boys are capable of going all the way.

"I've only worked with the youngsters for a year, and look how well they have come on in that time.

"A year isn't long enough. I was at Cambridge for five years and I was at Leyton Orient for five years, and at both clubs I brought loads of youngsters through.

"You need a bit of time - you can't do anything in a year.

"I can't moan about the players or the staff - they've been as good as gold.

"There are 23 players there now and at least ten are aged between 18 and 22.

"I couldn't have done much more in the year I had but I know that in another year we would have been magnificent as the youngsters would have progressed even more."

Taylor revealed that he had spoken to a few of the players after the news.

"Nearly all of them have rung me up and they're really upset about it because they know what I've done for them," said Taylor.

"I'm just disappointed I'm not on the training ground tomorrow, especially after the way the youngsters performed on Tuesday night."

Taylor also spoke of his relationship with Reynolds.

"It's been an unbelievable experience working with the man! I'll never forget Mr Reynolds," said Taylor. "He's got a hard enough job on his hands building the new stadium so I'm not going to slag anybody off.

"I'd like to thank the fans; I've been honest with them and they've been honest with me. There are a few who didn't want me to be there at the end but I can appreciate that because they spend their money and they're entitled to have a go."

Reynolds now has the difficult task of finding a manager who can lift the gloom at Feethams and bring the success he so desperately craves.

He has promoted skipper Craig Liddle to first-team coach and Liddle said: "In the end a manager is judged on his results and the results just didn't go for Tommy.

"But as players we also have to take some responsibility."

Reynolds did admit, however, that he will not be looking to the south for Taylor's successor.

He added: ''I find with managers you've got to get them where their heart and soul is in it. Southern managers don't seem to gel up in the north for some reason. Up here football is religion.

"We want someone who is going to give it 100 per cent.

"There is no shortage of managers but it's getting the right one."

One man who gave 100 per cent during his playing days at Feethams was former Quakers skipper Kevan Smith, who has been linked with the vacant hotseat.

Another contender could be Tony Lee, father of Hartlepool defender Graeme, who is currently coaching Spennymoor.

There has also been widespread speculation that former Carlisle chairman Michael Knighton, a close friend of Reynolds, could be in line for a surprise entrance into football management.

Mick Tait will take charge of Saturday's trip to Exeter on a caretaker basis and Reynolds refused to rule Tait out of contention.

"Mick is in charge for now and if he does very, very well who knows?" said Reynolds.

Whoever does come in, the chairman is confident the club is moving in the right direction.

"The club will progress, " said Reynolds

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