Tait is delighted to be back

Tait left eight years ago to continue his career at Hartlepool, but he revealed that he jumped at the chance to return when the assistant manager's role was offered to him.

"I've always wanted to get back into the professional game," he said.

"I want to be involved in coaching again, so it's great to be working in the Football League again.

"My first year at Darlington was fantastic. There was a great atmosphere at the club, because they had just come up from the Conference in 1990.

"I think I was the only signing that summer, and we went on to win the Fourth Division title. They were great days, and we played some great football. But the following season, things went wrong."

Tait left at the end of the 1991-92 season as Quakers reduced their wage bill following relegation. He moved as a player to Hartlepool, and took over the manager's hot seat in 1996 for nearly three years.

He then had a spell in charge of UniBond League club Blyth Spartans, but quit during the summer.

"I enjoyed my spell at Blyth, but it was only part-ime. One or two things went wrong for financial reasons, and I quit because I wanted to try and achieve something there, but couldn't."

He took on a scouting role for Huddersfield, and actually took in a couple of Darlington games on their behalf at the start of the season.

"I watched Darlington and thought they played some good football."

Meanwhile, manager Gary Bennett has shelved his interest in centre half Dean Walling, his former Carlisle teammate.

"He was finding it hard to adapt to the pace of League football again. He wouldn't have been able to do us a job," said Bennett, who was yesterday speaking to three potential new signings.

Midfielder Martin Gray has been suffering with a back injury, but he is expected to play tomorrow against Shrewsbury. But midfielder Brian Atkinson hasn't trained all week because of a hamstring injury.

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