DEFIANT David Hodgson last night insisted he will not walk out on Darlington at the end of the season after revealing his driving ambition to achieve his promotion dream with Quakers.

Since returning to the club two-and-a-half years ago, Hodgson has been the force behind transforming Quakers from relegation strugglers to promotion contenders.

Despite the disgruntlement of some fans, who feel Quakers have underachieved this season after finishing eighth a year ago, Hodgson has no intentions of abandoning the club he loves.

After their failure to secure a play-off spot last season, Hodgson revealed his intent to review his position if Quakers did not improve on their eighth-placed finish.

But, with seventh spot almost certain to prove elusive for a second year running, Hodgson has already made a decision on his future.

He said: "I'm the one who has been responsible for making this football club tick for the last two-and-a-half years.

"I came in when it was at rock bottom but I've made a lot of decisions which are right for this club.

"If I thought the right one was for me to leave I would do it, but it isn't because I haven't won promotion yet."

Whereas Carlisle have had the goals of Karl Hawley and Michael Bridges to guide the Cumbrians to a second successive promotion, Hodgson has been bereft of a regular forward line this season.

"We've had an horrendous raw deal with the strikers we've lost," said Hodgson.

"We would have improved on it had we been able to keep Guy Ndumbu-Nsungu and Tresor Kandol. Had Clyde Wijnhard remained professional away from the stadium he would be still be here.

"They are three strikers who are all capable of scoring goals and I'm sure they would have chipped in with six or seven goals each. If we'd have been able to keep hold of them we would be in the play-offs comfortably.

"It's easy to look at the negatives and moan that we've fallen short, but it's like asking a runner to do a cross-country with only one shoe."

A Quakers win against Wrexham this afternoon is likely to prove academic, with seventh-placed Lincoln holding a three-point advantage and a superior goal difference.

The Imps must suffer a heavy defeat at home to mid-table Rochdale for Quakers to stand any chance of making the play-offs for the first time since 2000.

In addition, Quakers must leapfrog Peterborough, who are one point above in eighth and also boast a better goals record. The Posh are at home to Wycombe.

"It's slightly out of our hands because there is a points issue as well as the goal difference," said Hodgson. What we've got to do is put to bed all of those potential scenarios and cast our mind back to Bury.

"We have to cast our mind back to how people reacted after that game at the players and at myself. That has to be the driving force that makes us finish the season on a high.

"If we put that point across we can go out, score three or four goals, then who knows what might happen?"

While Hodgson has bemoaned ill-fortune in other areas this season, a potential defensive crisis was averted by David McGurk's return to the club this week.

With both skipper Matt Clarke and Matty Appleby suspended this afternoon Hodgson was facing a selection dilemma.

But, after York's season drew to a close last weekend, McGurk is available for Quakers after returning to the club.

"How lucky is that for us? We'd already lost Matty Appleby, so we knew we were going into some crucial games towards the end of the season with limited defenders," said Hodgson.

"We're just very fortunate that TY is back this week and can come in for Matt."

Carlos Logan will make his first home start since February after coming through last week's win at Wycombe without any problems.

However, Jemal Johnson may have already played his last game for the club.

The on-loan Blackburn striker misses his second game with a knee injury.

The 20-year-old will return to Ewood Park next week unless Quakers secure a play-off place, in which case the American will be available.

Denis Smith's Wrexham occupied a play-off place at the turn of the year but a disastrous run of results in 2006 - just five wins - has seen the Red Dragons slip to mid-table.

Former Sunderland boss Smith has several injury worries to contend with this afternoon.

Northern Ireland striker Lee McEvilly is sidelined with a broken foot, while Jim Whitley misses out with a knee injury.

Wales Under-21 international midfielder Mark Jones will not play after suffering a knee injury in last week's draw with Oxford.

Despite their problems, Hodgson is expecting anything but an easy ride against a side who were relegated from League One last season.

"It's a massive game against a reasonably good side," said Hodgson."They've slipped up during the second half of the season but I'm sure they'll be wanting to finish on a positive note.

"I want to send the public away with a happy memory of our last game of the season."

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