AFTER signing five players since last season, Darlington manager Dave Penney has dismissed suggestions that Shelton Martis is to return to the club.

The Hibernian defender left Quakers last August but there is discontent among the ranks at the Edinburgh club and there are expected to be several exits this summer.

Differences of opinion with manager John Collins has led to speculation about players and staff leaving, with coach Mark Proctor, who was David Hodgson's No 2 at Darlington, quitting to become Livingston boss.

Martis, paid close to £2,000 a week, joined Quakers two years ago but Penney denies he is interested in bringing the Dutchman, 24, back to the club.

Martis was recently linked with a return to the 96.6 TFM Darlington Arena, but Penney has rubbished those reports.

Penney said: "I've not seen him play at all. Apparently he's not playing and if he was leaving them we would have to get him watched and I'd have to take advice from people still here at the club who worked with him.

"But certainly he hasn't been mentioned here.

"You could say the same thing about Matt Clarke. He's not been playing at Bradford. I don't know, some people go on websites, put two and two together and get five.

"When I've brought players in this season it's all been done and dusted without anyone knowing, without any speculation, and it'll be the same next season. Otherwise you get people's hopes up, only to be disappointed if you don't get the player that's been mentioned, so we never name names until the deal is done."

Speculation also linked Darlington with midfielder Neil MacKenzie, but he has joined Notts County from Scunthorpe.

Will Short, who last month resgined from his role as Doncaster youth team physio, is in line to replace Paul Gough at Darlington.