DARLINGTON coach Duncan Scarr has resigned after his side began the season with nine straight defeats following promotion to North One East.

The 82-5 hammering at Beverley last week proved the final straw and Sean Richardson will be in charge for today's visit of Morley.

Despite regularly competing up front, defensive weaknesses in the backs have seen Darlington lose by more than 60 points five times this season.

Scarr was in his third season with the club but his hopes of strengthening the squad over the summer slipped into reverse when skipper Steve Taylor left for Stockton and star centre Andy Pugh joined Medicals because he is training to be a doctor in Newcastle.

Secretary Tony Stowe said: "We also lost the other centre, Connor O'Leary, who went to work abroad and that has been the biggest problem.

It certainly hasn't been all Duncan's fault but he has paid the price for our poor start.

"We will sit down with Sean after the Morley game to discuss the way forward. He's a level two coach and he came to assist Duncan and also to play, but an ankle injury has kept him out."