Shape up - or ship out

MARK Cooper has reiterated a stark warning to his underperforming Darlington players: Improve or you are out.

Empowered by the backing of chairman Raj Singh, the manager has demanded that the players raise their standards after an awful start to the season.

His side have won only one of their last eight matches with the latest disappointment being Saturday’s dismal display that led to a 2-0 defeat at bottom-of-the-table Bath City and left Quakers floundering 16th in the Blue Square Premier table.

That embarrassing result, coming after weeks of uncertainty over his own future, meant that Cooper privately feared his tenure at The Northern Echo Arena was over.

But, on Sunday, Singh announced unequivocal support of the man he appointed last year, which suggested Cooper will remain in position for a good while yet – a move which has helped the manager shift focus for the poor run on to his below-par players.

Sharing that view are several well-positioned allies – the players themselves.

After defeat at Bath, Michael Brough added his voice to that of Jamie Chandler and Kris Taylor, who both spoke publicly last week, in admitting that the squad had let down both Cooper and assistant Richard Dryden.

Ahead of this evening’s game at Stockport County, Cooper said: “A lot of the players aren’t just letting the fans and the club down, they’re letting themselves down too.

“If I was them I’d be worried because we’re looking to move up the table now and to do that they’ve either got to start producing or they’ll be replaced.

“We’ve got to be better, no excuses, we’ve got to be better than we have been in the first 14 matches and if the players don’t agree with that then we’ll replace them, they’ll have to go.

“Players have got to start producing.

“They know I’m here now, they know that I’m the manager and if they don’t start doing what they’re supposed to do then they’re going to be out the door and we’ll bring replacements in.”

Cooper, however, does not have much scope to bring in any fresh blood so is considering moving players out first to create the finances required to boost his squad.

He has several targets lined up that he would like to sign, and added: “We’re looking all the time and there’s players out there that I could bring in.

“But it comes down to finance and where we are in the country because the best players available have got the pick of the clubs closer to home.”

A trialist centre-back trained with Darlington yesterday with a view to playing this evening as the club’s defensive ranks are depleted due to injury and suspension.

Graeme Lee picked up a one-game ban on Saturday after reaching five bookings while Paul Arnison sustained a suspected broken ankle and was stretchered off in the first half.

Ian Miller (hernia) and Ben Purkiss (knee) remain sidelined, but Aaron Brown hopes to play after sitting out the last two matches with an ongoing thigh problem.

Spaniard Jonatan Sanchez- Munoz comes into the reckoning, though Cooper admitted: “He’s probably not ready yet. We brought him in to develop him because he’s got potential.

“He’s got a lot of what’s needed to make a good defender, he’s a big a lad and he’s mobile, but we didn’t want to play him just yet.”

If Sanchez-Munoz plays the 21-year-old will make his third appearance for the club – the others were also away from home, at Luton and Cambridge – against a Stockport side struggling in their first season after relegation, as are Lincoln who came down with the Hatters from the Football League.

Managed by former Newcastle and Liverpool midfielder Dietmar Hamann, County have drawn all seven of their away games while at home have won only twice.

Cooper said: “I went to watch them against Luton and they played some really good football, which you would expect given that their manager is Dietmar Hamann.

“They seem to be drawing a lot, they can’t quite get a couple of wins together. It is difficult for them, like any club coming down.

“They haven’t thrown loads of money at it and the manager is probably still coming to terms with the level, but I’m sure they’ll get it right.”

While Darlington were losing at Bath, Stockport were without a match as their last game was at Cambridge United on Thursday where they drew 2-2 – their fifth game without a win.

• Lincoln last night sacked boss Steve Tilson. He was appointed almost a year ago.

After relegation from the Football League in May, the Imps have won three times this season and lost 4-0 at Tamworth on Saturday.