Darlington have suffered a blow in their hunt for a new manager after talks with Colin Cooper broke down.

He was a leading contender to replace namesake Mark Cooper, but he and chairman Raj Singh have been unable to agree terms and he now expects to remain as Middlesbrough's under-18s coach.

Cooper was a guest of Singh's at The Northern Echo Arena for Saturday's FA Cup tie with Hinckley United that ended in a 1-1 draw.

The replay is in Leicestershire this evening with caretaker manager Craig Liddle again in charge.

Speaking to The Northern Echo last night, Cooper said: "There's been lots of rumours but that's all it is as far as I'm concerned.

"I had couple of chats with the chairman about the job and I went to have a look at them play on Saturday after he invited me.

"We had a couple of conversations, he set out his criteria and I set out mine and as far as I see it I remain with Middlesbrough.

"I fully respect the chairman's decision to stick to his criteria. I and the management team that I was looking to bring in had our position and the chairman had his."

Singh has received over 50 applications for the post vacated at the beginning of last week.

Liddle remains in the running, and Cooper added: "I like Raj and his people there, I like them a lot. I wish them every success and I'm sure they'll appoint the right man."

Liddle now stands as the leading candidate to become manager, but he is not the only former Darlington player in the frame.

Ex-striker Alan Walsh, the club's all-time leading scorer, is also interested in becoming boss at the Arena having recently left Bristol City following a lengthy spell as a coach at Ashton Gate.

The 54-year-old was a loyal and popular player during six years with Quakers during which he scored 100 goals before leaving at the end of the 1983-84 season for Bristol City where he was again a fans' favourite.

Hartlepool-born Walsh scored 99 goals for the Robins, and although he has not been a first team manager before, for the past 11 years he has been part of the coaching staff at Bristol City, fulfilling a variety of roles, from the club's academy to working with first team players.

However, Darlington's focus this evening is on reaching the first round proper of the FA Cup and clinching a home tie with Tamworth on November 12.

Having been relatively pleased with Saturday's showing, aside from wasteful finishing, Liddle is unlikely to make major changes to his starting XI.

On Saturday he handed recalls to five players including Marc Bridge-Wilkinson and John Campbell, both of whom had been out of favour during the final weeks of Mark Cooper's reign, and Liddle was satisfied with their contribution.

"We tried to get Bridgey on the ball as much as we could in that hole behind the striker," said Liddle. "It's a system that I'm familiar with, one that we worked on in the couple of days before the game.

"Because of the two banks of four in front of us we wanted to get Bridgey on the ball to give them some problems. He dropped a little bit too deep, but you expect that out of frustration because he wanted to be on the ball, and he did show glimpses of what he was capable of.

"I think John offers something different. He's pacey and is normally a good finisher but I'll give him some stick because he promised me two goals on Saturday.

"The way I set my teams up and the way I like to play I think you need pace in wide areas - I thought Ryan Bowman had a very good first half - and you need that in the modern game."

If Darlington win this evening they would end a poor run in FA Cup replays. They have lost their last six - against Manchester City, Luton Town, Peterborough United, Yeovil, Northampton Town and Droylsden - with their last victory being in November 1997 against Solihull.