DARLINGTON skipper Matt Clarke has leapt to the defence of under-fire manager David Hodgson, insisting there is no better man for the job.

Clarke has played throughout Hodgson's two-and-a-half year tenure back at the club.

The defender is one of only eight surviving members - Clark Keltie, Joey Hutchinson, Neil Maddison, Neil Wainwright, David McGurk, Ryan Valentine and Jack Norton the others - of the squad Hodgson inherited in October 2003.

And, during that time Clarke, appointed manager by Hodgson at the start of this season, believes things have changed for the better under Hodgson.

The 25-year-old was part of the side which Hodgson successfully steered clear of relegation in 2004 when the club was in administration.

A year later only goal difference denied Hodgson a major turnaround in fortunes when they narrowly missed out on a play-off place.

But, with any improvement on last season's eighth-placed finish looking unlikely, Hodgson has come under increased pressure from fans.

Quakers have eight games to make an attwempt to make up the seven-point gap, which separates them from seventh position.

"The gaffer has worked wonders since he came back to the club," said Clarke. "He's transformed the place and he deserves success as much as anyone here.

"If we don't make the play-offs this season then I'm sure he'll be just as determined to make it next year.

"I share the fans' frustration that we haven't done as well as we'd have liked this season, but it hasn't been the manager's fault."

Only Bury (39), Rushden (39), Stockport (38) and Oxford (38) have used more players than Hodgson (37) in League Two this season - ten of which have been loan signings.

But, with injuries and Hodgson's well-documented striker problems, Clarke can sympathy.

"The gaffer has had a lot to deal with when you look at the amount of injuries we've had," said Clarke.

"I don't want to look for excuses, but we've had terrible luck with finding a settled strike-force too.

"If we'd had one then I'm certain we would have been in the play-offs at the very least."

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