Darlington manager Gary Bennett is hoping to sign a player from a Premiership club today.

Bennett spent most of yesterday making enquiries for at least one new striker and he said: "We've made a little bit of progress."

"I've left it in the chairman's hands because he's going to speak to the chairman of the other club involved."

Bennett still won't disclose who his target is, but he did reveal that the player is currently with a Premiership club - and that he won't be coming on loan, which suggests that chairman George Reynolds is possibly negotiating a transfer fee.

Darlington's LDV Vans Trophy tie at York last night was postponed again with the pitch waterlogged, a decision which left Bennett with mixed feelings.

"One or two of the lads, such as Stuart Elliott and Paul Heckingbottom, needed games under their belts, but on the other hand the postponement will give other players a couple of days extra rest for the Leyton Orient game on Saturday."

Striker Jesper Hjorth is still carrying an injury and he will probably miss the trip to London, but Craig Liddle (shoulder) and Neil Aspin (hamstring) should be fully fit.

A new date has yet to be arranged for the York game, but it won't be this year, because both clubs are involved in FA Cup replays next week.

The earliest available date will probably be Tuesday January 9.

l Third Division leaders Chesterfield face having three sides of their stadium closed after the Football Licensing Authority (FLA) refused to extend permission for the use of the terraces at the Recreation Ground.

The Spireites were awarded a stay of execution by the FLA in July when the authority granted a second dispensation to enable the club to relocate to a new ground within a ''reasonable and definite time-scale''.

But according to the FLA the Blues have failed to act and the decision has been taken not to extend the permission when the agreement expires on December 31 - just 24 hours after Hartlepool visit Saltergate, with Darlington the visitors on Boxing Day.

The club will seek urgent meetings with the Football League and Derbyshire County Council. A spokesman for the FLA said: ''We're going to be talking to the club about what contingency plans they have.