DARLINGTON are struggling with only one win, yet morale within the squad is high as the team set about their task of moving up the table.

Relegation-threatened they may be, but Quakers are not letting their plight affect them.

So says assistant manager Kevin Richardson, who reckons that the mood at their training base in Durham has improved since he and manager Steve Staunton were appointed at the beginning of this month.

Their arrival has coincided with a series of lengthy away trips, the latest of which sees Darlington make a 460-mile round-trip to Hereford today.

Last week it was Barnet (485 miles), a fortnight earlier Dagenham (500) and next week it is back to Barnet in the FA Cup.

But the miles travelled on Quakers’ team coach have at least afforded the ever-evolving squad an opportunity for some team bonding.

“I think the lads are responding well to us, they are having a laugh and from what I gather things weren’t like that before we came in.

“We make sure they have no worries before they go out on the pitch. We do their worrying for them,” said Richardson, who reckons he has not had a harder job than his current employment.

He is not complaining and added: “I get up dead early, go to bed dead early and it’s great. It’s the toughest job I’ve had in my life but we’re enjoying it.

“You can tell by the body language the players are more upbeat. Don’t get me wrong, we work them hard but it’s also nice to see them have a laugh and carry on during training.

“It’s tough at any level to come in and gel with their team-mates. The new players have given the place a lift.

“The mood has changed from when we first came in and hopefully that goes into the players and pays dividends on the pitch. We made changes last week and the lads who came in did well.”

Although the 3-0 scoreline at Barnet suggested otherwise, it belied Quakers’ performance, which did not merit a heavy defeat.

Darlington suffered their 11th loss of the season after missing a succession of scoring chances, with new striker Simon Thomas among those wasteful in front of goal.

He is one of Staunton’s eight signings so far with this week’s two new arrivals – Ashlee Jones and Nathan Mulligan – in the squad today.

Richardson admitted: “It will be nice to get a more settled side so we’re not constantly bringing in new faces.

But there is always an element of that throughout the season.

“I am always going to games and even after January you start to plan for the next season. Hopefully, once we start getting a run of results in the league we’ll be able to look at the long-term picture.

“We are taking a player, Nathan, who’s been recommended to us by people we trust. But we get them in first, no-one is signed until Steve and I have a good look at them on the training pitch.

“We assess what they can add to the team. The two we’ve taken this week will improve the squad.

“We are drawing players from top to bottom – Everton, Villa, Wolves, now a local team. So we are looking everywhere for new talent. I was at a game on Wednesday night and so was the manager. We are looking all of the time.”

■ Darlington’s youth team play Hartlepool United at The Northern Echo Arena today.

Admission is free for the Football League Youth Alliance North-East Conference game, which kicks-off at 11am.

■ The Darlington Supporters Club are planning a coach for next Saturday’s FA Cup tie at Barnet. But as the game falls outside their regular agreement with Atkinsons Coaches, they are unable to sustain any losses which may be incurred.

The cost of travel will vary from £30 to £60 per person depending on how many people book – by phoning 01325 243911 before Wednesday, November 4. If there are insufficient numbers to cover the cost of the coach, it will be cancelled.