GEORGE Reynolds cranked up the pressure on Tommy Taylor last night when Darlington's official website published a statement warning the manager: "Results must improve - and quickly."

After Saturday's 2-1 defeat at Leyton Orient left Darlington fifth from bottom of the Football League, Reynolds placed the blame for their woeful run of seven games without a win squarely at Taylor's door.

Reynolds was hopeful last night that he would be able to confirm a new signing as soon as today, with Carlisle's Stuart Whitehead believed to be moving across the A66.

But after beginning the season confident that they would mount a serious push for promotion, Darlington are currently staring at a long, hard winter battling against relegation from the Football League in the wake of falling home attendances.

The website statement proclaimed that Reynolds was "very perturbed" about the situation and admitted the side's performances thus far this campaign have been worse than last season.

Reynolds last night added: "If I was in a job and I wasn't doing well, I'd admit that and walk.

"Tommy will know in his own heart how he's doing, and he must think that he can turn it around.

"Tommy has asked for two more players and I'm prepared to do that, so no one can put the blame on me.

"I can't be any fairer than I have been, and I've allowed the manager to manage.

"It's now up the manager which players he picks. You can get plenty of players, but you have to get the right ones.

"The money's there for a new striker and I'm trying my best.

"There's a lot of pressure on managers and I sympathise with Tommy to a certain extent, but I also sympathise with the fans.

"How does any chairman feel when his team are losing? I don't think there's a chairman in the country who's delighted at being at the bottom, and I feel terrible at the moment.

"The fans feel it bad - but I feel it worse than the fans. I'm working so hard but it's not easy."

Reynolds last night refused to reveal the identity of the player whom he wants to entice to Darlington today, but indicated that it is not Marco Gabbiadini.

The Feethams chairman is still confident, however, that Gabbiadini could yet return to his former club from Northampton Town. "I think the Marco Gabbiadini deal is still in the pipeline but I've left that to Tommy," Reynolds added.

* Quakers defender Ryan Valentine has been included in the Welsh Under-21 squad for their game with Italy on October 15.

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