DAVID HODGSON last night reaffirmed his commitment to recreating the former glories he once brought to Darlington.

The pressure is beginning to mount on Hodgson from fans unhappy with Quakers' poor form and lack of entertainment.

Despite an encouraging start to the campaign, his under-achievers - without a game this weekend - have slipped from joint leaders to 13th in League Two and are now six points outside the play-off zone.

However, Hodgson, who guided the club to the old Third Division play-off final in 2000, has defiantly vowed to rectify the situation.

"The fans have a right to be concerned and disappointed because of the high standards which have been set in previous years," said Hodgson. "We are not playing to those standards and we have to accept that.

"It was mentioned in the press earlier this week, but perhaps I am a victim of the standards I have set in the past.

"I'm not hiding from the responsibility and I can and will deliver."

With the FA Cup second round taking over this weekend, Hodgson will have to wait until Tuesday when Quakers go to Shrewsbury. Phil Stamp could make his long-awaited return at Gay Meadow, while defender Joey Hutchinson should shake off a calf strain in time to face the Shrews, who host Colchester United in the FA Cup.

"We've had Shrewsbury watched twice and there will be someone down there on Saturday to have a look at them," said Hodgson, who will watch Darlington take on Huddersfield in the second round of the FA Youth Cup.

The Quakers boss will shortly open talks with the five players whose contracts expire at the end of the month.

Shelton Martis, Anthony Peacock, Guylain Ndumbu-Nsungu, Carlos Logan and Clark Keltie are all near the end of their deals, while Tresor Kandol's loan from Dagenham expires in January.

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