David Hodgson insists he wanted to sign Tresor Kandol before the Dagenham & Redbridge striker turned his back on a permanent move to Darlington.

Dagenham are due to release a statement clarifying the future of Kandol after their hopes of cashing on the 24-year-old collapsed.

A fee for a permanent deal had been agreed with the Conference club but, after failing to settle in the North-East during his recent loan switch, Kandol returned to Dagenham.

His future at the Glynn Hopkins Stadium remains shrouded in mystery. Kandol scored twice in seven appearances for Quakers, returning to Dagenham after netting in his final appearance for Hodgson's men against Torquay on January 2. He has yet to make an appearance for the Daggers since returning to the club.

Having agreed a fee with Quakers, believed to be in the region of £50,000, hard-up Dagenham were relying on the sale of Kandol to boost their coffers.

Hodgson said: "We had an agreement with Dagenham & Redbridge that on January 6 Tresor Kandol would become a Darlington player. On doing so we would then enter negotiations with him and Dagenham.

"However, in the days leading up to him signing, Tresor decided against signing for Darlington.

"If that was the case then why would we pay a transfer fee for him?"

The Conference club released a statement, saying: "The situation is still ongoing and the club's officers are responding to events as they occur. With this in mind they do not feel it appropriate to make any further comment at this time.

"The club will, however, make a full statement once the matter has been fully resolved."

Meanwhile, there was good news for Quakers yesterday after it was discovered skipper Matt Clarke had not suffered a fractured cheekbone, as was first feared, during Tuesday's goalless draw with Grimsby.

He is expected to be fit in time to face Oxford this weekend. Defender David Duke underwent a double hernia operation yesterday and is due to return next month.

Read more about the Quakers here.