Darlington's Brian Atkinson has been forced to retire at the age of 31 with a knee injury.

The prospect had been on the horizon for some time and a visit to a specialist earlier this week confirmed an operation would see him out of action for the season.

And with his contract due to finish at the end of this term, the former Sunderland midfielder has made the brave decision to stop playing.

Manager Tommy Taylor was disappointed to lose Atkinson whose knee was injured at the end of last season. He said: "They could not operate on it considering how long he'd have left in the game once he'd recovered.

"His contract was up at the end of the year but who is going to take him after a bad injury like that because it could go again.

"I feel for him because you don't like to see players pack the game up because of a bad injury."

Throughout his six years with the Quakers, during which time he served under four managers, he was a first-team regular when not injured which, unfortunately, was an all too often occurrence.

But Atkinson made 224 appearances, the last in the final game of last season, and he scored 14 goals after arriving in 1996 from Sunderland for whom he played in the 1992 FA Cup Final defeat to Liverpool.

Brought to Feethams by Jim Platt after turning down the chance to sign for Hartlepool, Atkinson featured in most of the club's big games during his time with the club and, perhaps fittingly, his last goal in Quakers' colours was against Pool - a 2-1 Darlington win at Victoria Park in August last year.

He becomes the third Quaker to retire from the game through injury after fellow midfielders Martin Gray and Gary Himsworth called it a day last season.

The news did not come as shock, which is why Jon Cullen was brought in last week, while fellow new signing Phil Hadland was given Atkinson's squad number on his arrival last week.

* Darlington chairman George Reynolds last night denied reports that former Carlisle owner Michael Knighton has been offered a job with Darlington although admits he would like to have see him become the club's commercial manager.

Knighton sold Carlisle just before the season started and has been to both of Quakers' home matches this season but Reynolds, who admits he regrets not being able to entice Knighton to the club, said he was in attendance merely a personal guest.

"I'd have loved him as a commercial manager, he would have been ideal," said Reynolds who fears Knighton could be tempted with a position at a top club. "We've never offered him a job, I'd like to offer him a job on the commercial side."

Knighton's presence at Feethams had aroused suspicion he was about to become one of Reynolds' staff.

But Reynolds explained: "He's been seen at Darlington matches, but he goes to matches all over. He's been to Middlesbrough and Newcastle games.

"I've been seen at Sunderland and Newcastle but it doesn't mean I'm working for them or trying to buy them."

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