MARC Bridge-Wilkinson has played his last game for Darlington unless he can be convinced that his long-term future lies at The Northern Echo Arena.

The 31-year-old’s threemonth loan from Carlisle United expired after Saturday’s 0-0 draw with AFC Wimbledon.

The player has been a major success for Quakers and manager Mark Cooper and chairman Raj Singh are hoping to convince the attacking midfielder to ignore the interest from other clubs and sign a permanent deal.

Bridge-Wilkinson has been operating in a free role behind two strikers, a position that appears to get the best out of the playmaker.

“We’re speaking to Marc all the time,” said Cooper.

Me and the chairman are going to lock him in the boardroom until he signs a contract!

“If Bridgey is sensible and he wants a little bit of security, this is somewhere he is loved, he knows he is going to play and it’s only an hour away from where he lives. We’ve said all that to him and we’re going to say it again.

“But the one thing we can’t do is hand out contracts that are going to put this club into financial trouble again.

“I’m sure he wants to see what options there are, but I’m hoping there aren’t too many.

“As it stands he can’t play on Tuesday at home to Histon, so fingers crossed that it is all sorted before then.”

Despite being held to a goalless draw on Saturday, Quakers arguably deserved all three points after putting in a performance that built on the win over Barrow last week.

Prior to that Cooper’s men shaded the second half at Fleetwood Town on New Year’s Day, and the manager added: “I think the system is working for us.

“We’re going to try and continue it. It enables us to get our full-backs forward to get crosses in the box and to get the ball into Bridge- Wilkinson’s feet.

“Marc plays at the tip of the diamond in midfield, he’s our creative player, our talisman.

“He’s going to give the ball away occasionally because he’s someone who is always trying to create something for you.

“But he’s a clever player and if we’re going to progress we’ve got to have players like that in the club.”