FREE-SCORING Ian Clark believes his committment and not just impressive goal tally have made him a fans' favourite after joining Darlington from Hartlepool.

Clark has been a revelation since arriving at Feethams from Quakers' arch-rivals in November, bagging 13 goals in 27 League appearances, including six in the last five games.

And the 27-year-old says his work-rate and all-round good displays in a variety of positions have worked in his favour.

"The fans are behind me now and I don't think it's just the goals that have done that," he said.

"My philosophy is just to work hard and the rest will come.

"As for my goals tally, it's been my best season but I think I played well when I got to the play-offs with Hartlepool and I think I've played just as well this season."

As a Pool player Clark was always a menace to Quakers' defence when the two sides met and became something of a hate-figure among Darlington fans.

But all that has changed now, and Clark conceded he had to try extra hard to reverse the supporters' feelings.

He said: "I suppose you have to try 110 per cent when you've joined Darlington from Hartlepool to win the fans over.

"I'd played against Darlington and scored against Darlington so the fans here already knew me. I think I must have got slagged off by every person on the terraces before I came here, which is fair enough.

"Coming from Hartlepool to Darlington was always going to be hard but I think I've settled down well and showed the fans what I can do and hopefully there's still more to come."

* Keeper Andy Collett has won the Gordon Soulsby Player of the Year, the Junior Supporters Club Player of the Year and the Darlo Uncovered website Player of the Year.