Darlington moved a step closer to appointing their new manager yesterday after interviewing candidates at The Northern Echo Arena.

Ex-York manager Martin Foyle, former Rotherham boss Ronnie Moore and club hero Alan Walsh all staked their claims.

Other applicants have included Chris Turner, Neale Cooper and Richard Money.

However, Craig Liddle will not be making the step up after informing chairman Raj Singh that he felt it was not the right time.

He wants to remain head of youth, though he has not ruled out becoming boss one day. As caretaker boss he will be in charge at home to AFC Telford today.

His reluctance to replace Mark Cooper has left Singh and managing director Graham Fordy looking elsewhere at the end of a week that began with Middlesbrough coach Colin Cooper pulling out of talks, while last week's attempts to recruit Steve Agnew, also a Boro coach, also came to nothing.

Foyle is hopeful and is not perturbed by Singh's intent to renegotiate players' contracts, and he said: "I understand the situation there and sympathise with the people because they have put a lot of money in and I understand their plans will be coming out.

"I appreciate that it's not an easy job, but then very few jobs are when you get them at whatever level. You're not going to get a job where everything is hunky-dory.

"But I'd still be confident of doing a job there. I was at the match on Tuesday and I've watched a few DVDs of the team playing, so I know plenty about Darlington.

"I can see the comparisons with York, they were in a similar situation when I took the job there. Myself and my assistant Andy Porter were very committed to it, it's the only way to be."

Foyle led York to the FA Trophy final in his first season at Bootham Crescent and they finished in the play-offs during 2009-10, his only full campaign in charge there.

Walsh is the club's all-time leading scorer and is interested in becoming boss having recently left Bristol City following a lengthy spell as a coach.

After leaving the Millers in March, when they were in the play-off positions, Moore is desperate to manage Darlington and believes he could take the team to the play-offs.

He is already familiar with Quakers, having been in the stand for last Saturday's 1-1 draw with Hinckley United in the FA Cup.

Quakers were humbled in the replay on Tuesday, a result that Liddle admits helped make his decision not to accept Singh's job offer.

"In an ideal situation I would have loved to have had a go at it. But with what's developed I think it's the right decision for everybody," said the 40-year-old.

"If there were any doubts in my mind, then Tuesday's game put everything to bed. We should've been out of sight early on, we should've been three or 4-0 up after 20 minutes. It didn't happen and once we conceded the game plan went out of the window.

"I made the decision because I genuinely care. The easy option would have been to take the job, but I'm one of the few who can say that management isn't the be all and end all, even though it appeals. I enjoy working with players and developing them. The decision was based more on what was right for the football club than Craig Liddle.

"I think the chairman would've liked me to do the job, but it needs someone with a little bit more experience because there's going to be a lot of wheeling and dealing.

"On top of that, there's off-the-field problems that need sorting, so it's a huge job for whoever comes in and for a first managerial post I don't think it would've been right for me."

Liddle informed Singh of his decision at Wednesday's FA Youth Cup game with Sheffield, a match that Quakers won 7-1 to record their sixth successive win.

Hopes of making it a magnificent seven will have to wait though as this morning's match with Hartlepool United has been postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.

The postponement means Liddle can focus on this afternoon's game, one that will see him make "two or three changes" as Quakers bid for a much-needed win.

"I'm looking forward to the game because once Tuesday was done and dusted you're looking towards the next match to get that disappointment out of your system," he said. "Hopefully, the crowd will be behind us, we need them, and if anything I would say get behind the lads and back the chairman."

Liddle will not be joined in the dug-out by former Bury and Doncaster defender Chris Swailes who has commitments to Newcastle United's academy and plays for Dunston Fed in the Northern League.