DARLINGTON chairman George Reynolds yesterday ended speculation about the future of manager Gary Bennett by giving him, and his assistant Mick Tait, two year contracts.

The pair's contracts both expired at the end of last season, and there has been considerable speculation amongst fans regarding their future, especially when Reynolds revealed at a fans forum two months ago that Bennett had decided to work without a new deal.

"The directors have decided to give Gary and Mick new contracts," said Reynolds.

"Gary has been loyal to the club, and did well last season. What you have to remember is that he took over just before the start of last season, and several players had left. He only had seven players, and some of those were injured.

"I think he did well under the circumstances. We have had numerous calls to give him, and Mick, new contracts - they have put a lot of untold hours into this club, and they should be rewarded. They are both honest and hard-working.

"They both said that they wanted to work without contracts, but we have decided to give them new deals."

And when asked that should results in the forthcoming season go against Bennett, would he sack his manager, Reynolds said: "I've stuck by Gary and Mick tooth and nail, and will continue to do so.

"If we are proved right by the pair of them, then a lot of people are going to be left with egg on their faces.

"We all want promotion this season, but even if we don't win promotion, then they won't get the sack. When Peter Reid first went to Sunderland, some of the fans wanted him sacked, but look where they are now.

"And Manchester United fans wanted to give Alex Ferguson the sack when he first started - now he's a sir.

" I know that Gary and Mick will do it."

The move came just two days after PR Director Luke Raine had backed Bennett at a meeting with supporters in Newton Aycliffe.

Bennett took over just before the start of last season, when previous boss David Hodgson quit.

The ex-Sunderland defender had a good start to managerial life with a victory in the Worthington Cup at Nottingham Forest, but for various reasons the team slipped down the league until the arrival of Tait in February steadied the boat.

And when the season ended, an internet poll stated that a massive 85 per cent of fans thought that Bennett shouldn't be at the Darlington helm.

But Reynolds obviously feels that giving his manager some security and stopping the speculation can provide the platform for a promotion push.

* Fulham's pre-season preparations have been given a further boost with the news that influential midfielder Lee Clark and keeper Maik Taylor have both signed four-year extensions to their contracts.

Clark, the 28-year-old former Sunderland and Newcastle midfielder, declared: ''I'm delighted to have reached an agreement that secures my future at Fulham.

''We had fantastic success last season and I'm very pleased to be back in the Premiership again. I'm enjoying my football here and the manager has great ambitions for the team.''

Clark, who signed for Fulham from Sunderland in July 1999 for £3m and has since made more than 100 appearances for the club, added: ''Extending my contract was a natural choice for me.'

Read more about the Quakers here.