Darlington defender Craig Liddle will have talks on his future with manager David Hodgson next week as higher division clubs start to show an interest.

Other clubs have been alerted to the fact that Quakers haven't yet re-signed the former Middlesbrough player after the end of his two-year contract, with First Division Barnsley leading the chase.

But Liddle, who was named in the PFA Third Division team of the Year, is in no hurry to leave Feethams and follow another former Darlington defender, Matty Appleby, who left for Oakwell after the 1996 play-off final.

"I'm not going to do anything until I've spoken to the club," Liddle said. "I'm happy here, but all I want is some security, and the manager knows that. I said last week I don't want to move because I'm settled in this area.

"I've spoken to Barnsley, but I have told them that they will just have to wait and see."

It is understood that another two First Division clubs and one Division Three side are keeping an eye on the situation.

The loss of Liddle would be a big blow to Darlington fans, especially coming so soon after the expected departure of star striker Marco Gabbiadini, who looks like joining Northampton next month when he returns from holiday.

Chairman George Reynolds, meanwhile, has revealed he will leave the club should it win promotion to the Premiership.

"I will walk away on the day we get into the Premiership," he said. "I want to go out on a winning note, because by then I'll have achieved what I set out to do. I don't want to drop back into the First Division so I can be slagged off.

"Until then, I will still put my heart and soul into it and get everything right."

Hodgson has been speaking to several players over the last couple of days and is likely to officially disclose his retained list early next week.

Meanwhile, the club have signed a sponsorship deal with brewers Carlsberg, which means the East Stand will now be named the Carlsberg Stand.

l Rangers face a trip into the unknown when they play their second-round European Champions League qualifier.

The Scottish champions have been paired with either FK Zalgiris Kaunas of Lithuania or NK Brotnjo of Bosnia in the draw made in Geneva yesterday.

Rangers have been drawn at home in the first leg on July 26 with the return taking place in Lithuania or Bosnia on August 2.

l Ipswich Town have signed 25-year-old Dutch international midfield player Martijn Reuser from Vitesse Arnhem for £1m.