Quakers manager Taylor is sacked

Chairman George Reynolds acted after last weekend's defeat at home to second-bottom Boston United - a game which saw the fans turn on the manager.

The relationship between the chairman and the manager had become increasingly strained as Darlington's results continued to disappoint fans who will see their club move to a 25,000-seater stadium next season.

As Mr Taylor left Feethams, Mr Reynolds revealed to The Northern Echo that Darlington captain Craig Liddle had been promoted to first-team player coach to work alongside assistant manager Mick Tait.

Mr Taylor left after a four-hour meeting with Mr Reynolds, resulting in the former Leyton Orient boss becoming the region's second managerial casualty this season, following Peter Reid's dismissal from Sunderland.

His 12-month reign at Darlington ended when he was called to a 10am meeting with Mr Reynolds, who released a terse statement announcing the manager had "left the club".

The meeting was a far cry from a year ago when the 51-year-old former West Ham player, took over at Feethams from Gary Bennett with the club's promise "we're confident he'll do the business".

But despite signing seven new players, the Quakers are fifth bottom in the Third Division.

Mr Reynolds told The Northern Echo: "If you're captain of the ship it's no good blaming the galley boy if it runs aground.''

Mr Taylor said: "George said he didn't want me to go but the supporters were turning against me and he needs the supporters on his side."

Mr Taylor said he believed the final straw was Darlington's 4-1 derby defeat by Hartlepool.

"The Hartlepool game was such a big blow to everybody at the club because people lost a lot of confidence through it."

He added: "I loved the people, they made me feel welcome from the day I walked through the door.

"To work successfully under George Reynolds you can't afford to lose a game, but that's impossible."

Read more about the Quakers here.