Story by Kevin Luff - 26th April 2007
Assistant manager praises supporters
Darlington assistant manager Martin Gray has praised the club's supporters despite Quakers enduring their lowest league crowd of the season. Only 2,727 fans ventured to the Arena and those who stayed away missed an entertaining match with Wycombe Wanderers.
Despite the low turnout the previous weekend Quakers' number two has heaped praise upon the supporters, especially those who have followed the club on the road, in what has been a busy season for the club with plenty of comings and goings out on the pitch.
"It is important we finish the season on a high because the fans have been fantastic throughout. They've had highs and lows and a big change with a new manager in," said Gray. "There has been a lot gone on throughout the season but I can remember going to Bristol Rovers on a Tuesday night and our fans were fantastic to travel that sort of distance. They were there at Barnet as well so it's important to finish on such a high because their support has been unbelievable."
Quakers are five points outside of the play-offs with only two games. Whilst making the top seven is not mathematically impossible Dave Penney's men would raise more than a few eyebrows if they extend their season with an appearance in the League Two play-offs.
Until Darlington are ruled out altogether Gray insists the team will keep going but attentions are starting to invariably turn to the next campaign, especially amongst the club's supporters who the club will hope turn out in bigger numbers next season. However Gray admits boosting the crowd would be made considerably more easy with a side winning games on a regular basis.
"The previous chairman tried everything and this chairman is no different. He is working very hard with the commercial people to get supporters through the gate but at the end of the day it is down to what we do," said the Darlington assistant boss. "As footballers and coaching staff we need results. If results are right and we are winning games people come through the date, you don't have to sell it as much then."
