DARLINGTON’S player of the year Rob Purdie last night explained that the chance to rejoin former manager Dave Penney at Oldham was too good to turn down.

He left the North-East yesterday to link up with Penney at Boundary Park and in doing so became the third player to leave Quakers this week.

Fellow midfielders Ricky Ravenhill and Jason Kennedy have also left in recent days, moving to Notts County and Rochdale respectively.

Darlington this week announced Colin Todd would succeed Penney as manage but he was unable to persuade Purdie to stay at The Northern Echo Darlington Arena.

Purdie said: “I had a brief chat with Colin Todd a couple of days ago but I’d had a few offers and with what has gone on over the last few months I wanted to move.

“In the current climate it’s hard to find a club and I think it’s going to be the same next summer, plus, Oldham offered me a two-year deal.

“Colin said he would like me to stay but my mind was already made up and that I’d prefer to move on. He seemed a nice bloke and I wish him all the best. But I couldn’t turn down the offer from Oldham.”

Purdie denied his move had been arranged soon after Penney joined Oldham late last month.

“I know there’d been rumours about me going to Oldham but I hadn’t spoken to Dave since the end of the season,”

said Purdie, who made 90 appearances and scored five goals after signing for Darlington in 2007 from Hereford.

“It came about really quickly, he only rang me on Thursday and within 24 hours I had signed. “I had offers from three League Two clubs, one of which I was ready to sign for, but then Dave rang and it was a no-brainer for me.

“I’ve never played in League One and it’s been my ambition since I got into League Two from the Conference with Hereford.”

Although predominantly a midfielder, Purdie’s versatility was frequently exploited, with Penney using him in a variety of positions, including both full-back roles and as a wide midfielder.

It is a situation he expects will continue at Oldham, and he said: “Dave knows what he’s going to get from me, he knows my game and he knows how to handle me.

“If anything, that is going to benefit me.

“I understand I can cover a lot of positions and I have spoken to him about it.

“Ideally I want to have a really strong pre-season and then hold down one position for the season but I understand it might the same as it was at Darlington, playing a bit here and there and trying to establish myself.”