Darlington yesterday received a massive boost when classy French defender Alex Jeannin signed a three-year deal.

Jeannin arrived at Feethams just before the transfer deadline last month and after watching him in training for only a couple of days, manager Gary Bennett and his assistant Mick Tait decided to throw him straight into action against Scunthorpe.

Since then he has shown his class with some excellent displays and his arrival coincided with Quakers' recent revival.

Monday's defeat at Brighton was his first as a Darlington player.

Those performances haven't gone unnoticed by other clubs and Quakers moved quickly yesterday to keep him at Feethams.

Chairman George Reynolds said: "There were seven other clubs interested in him.

"We spoke to him for five hours yesterday and we managed to sort out a two-year deal, with a one-year option.

"Even though he was available on a Bosman free, he has cost us a considerable sum of money because we have had to pay an intermediary.

"I still think we might have a job hanging on to him because he is a very good player.

"It wouldn't surprise me if somebody from much higher up the Football League or Premiership comes in for him in the future."

Reynolds, along with Bennett, will be working soon on the retained list, and the chairman said: "There will be players leaving, but there will also be players coming in."

Reynolds also confirmed that he would be offering three-year deals to the Bennett-Tait management team at the end of the season.

Jeannin, meanwhile, is receiving treatment for an ankle injury sustained at Brighton but is expected to be fit for the return of Brian Little and Kevan Smith to Feethams with Hull City on Saturday.

l Chesterfield have confirmed to the Football League that they intend to appeal against their points deduction.

At the recent three-day inquiry into allegations of illegal payments, the Third Division club were told they faced having nine points taken away and a £20,000 fine.

The inquiry had dealt with 90 separate allegations against the club and former chairman Darren Brown.

While most were found not proven, the tribunal did find that there had been a breach of regulations concerning the transfer of Luke Beckett and the under-reporting of gate receipts.

The nine-point punishment, if approved, would drop the Spireites into third spot, which is still an automatic promotion place despite previous fears that they faced a far more serious penalty.

However, Chesterfield have now told the Football League they intend to appeal, as rules allow, to the Football Association.

A date has already been set for an FA appeal board to hear the case on April 30 to ensure the matter is settled before the end of the season so that play-off games can go ahead.

Football League spokesman John Nagle said: ''Chesterfield have given us a verbal indication that they intend to appeal."