Darlington defender Craig Liddle gave the Quakers a massive boost ahead of today's FA Cup tie with Sudbury by agreeing to stay at Feethams until 2004 - on the day striker Lee Nogan left the club.

Liddle's future has constantly been the subject of speculation.

He was out of contract at the end of the season and would have been able to talk to clubs after January 1, 2001.

But the fans' favourite - who many expected to leave for a higher division club - decided to stay yesterday after talks with chairman George Reynolds, even though First Division Barnsley and Preston were watching the situation.

One factor in Liddle's decision was the news that five of his current teammates are also staying at the club after signing new deals this week. Adam Reed, Neil Aspin, Gary Himsworth, Glenn Naylor and Brian Atkinson all put pen to paper on new two-year contracts.

The news will go some way to appeasing the fans, who have been worried in the last fortnight about another break up of the squad.

And it may also relieve some of the trepidation before today's potential banana skin tie against the Jewson Eastern League side, who are 76 places below Quakers in the football ladder.

Liddle, who was included in the PFA Third Division team of the year last season, said: "I've never wanted to leave Darlington because I like the club and I'm settled in this area."

Nogan has left the club by mutual consent.

The 31-year-old Welsh international was signed from Grimsby in the summer of 1999 after Reynolds took over, but failed to establish a front-line partnership with Marco Gabbiadini last season, and had to play second fiddle to Peter Duffield.

Nogan scored five goals in 39 full and substitute appearances last season and four in 19 appearances this term.

The club are understood to have reached a financial settlement over the remainder of his contract.

Darlington spokesman Luke Raine said: "Lee wanted to move on for family reasons. He and his wife haven't settled and his wife, who is eight months pregnant, wants to move to the south."

Meanwhile, Quakers boss Gary Bennett will give his non-league opposition every respect today.

After four straight defeats Quakers can't afford any mistakes against the Jewson Eastern League side which hadn't lost in 32 matches until they lost in the FA Vase last Saturday.

Quakers were at a low ebb last Saturday following the home defeat by Halifax - their third successive setback at Feethams.

"It is going to be a very hard game, and we must pay them every respect," said Bennett, who appeared in the final of the competition for Sunderland eight years ago.

"We must be professional about the way we prepare, and the way we do the job out on the pitch."

This is fifth time in the last four years that Quakers have come up against non-league opposition, their biggest fright coming three years ago when Naylor scored in the first minute against Solihull, who hit back to draw.

Bennett added: "Our approach has to be right. If it isn't, then a difficult game will be even harder. We must concentrate on what we're going to do. Craig's decision to stay, though, has given everybody a great boost."

Bennett, who may switch to a 4-4-2 formation today with Naylor partnering Kevin Kyle up front, believes there is more optimism now that several players have had their immediate futures settled.

"There have been a lot of things to clear up which people don't know about," he said.

Bennett could this week bring in a new striker, who is understood to have played in Quakers' private game with Newcastle on Thursday.

Bennett is unlikely to follow up his interest in Chesterfield defender Steve Woods, who played for the reserves in a 3-0 defeat at Walsall.

l Quakers entertain Albany Northern League club West Auckland in the quarter-final of the Durham Challenge Cup