Darlington have missed out on bringing former defender Richard Hope back to the club.

League Two rivals Wrexham have nipped in to sign Hope who played for Quakers in the late 1990s.

The central defender was last week released by Shrewsbury Town and Darlington had contacted him to register their interest.

But Hope has instead penned a three-year deal at the Racecourse Ground where he will team up with fellow former Darlington defender, Ryan Valentine.

His final game for Shrewsbury was last Saturday's play-off final defeat, and he said: "I had two years at Shrewsbury and I thoroughly enjoyed it, culminating in the play-off final last weekend.

"We then had some meetings on Tuesday, when the gaffer told me that I was free to leave the club.

"That came as quite a shock to me and a few other people as well.

"I don't think I could have done a lot more for Shrewsbury, leading the team out at Wembley and coming within an ace of getting promoted. So it gives you a bit of a battering when you are told you are no longer in their plans."