May has not even ended yet but Darlington manager Dave Penney has already added five new faces to his squad. Quakers have already swooped for Stephen Foster, Alan White and more recently John Brackstone, Scott Wiseman and Kevin McBride.
Penney had previously signalled his intentions to act fast and waste little time but there will still be those who are surprised at the pace at which the club have completed their early deals. The speed already seen looks set to continue with the manager hoping to have his dealings completed by the start of pre-season.
"It is not just an over night thing, we've been working long and hard on some of these," said the manager. "As I've said many times before in the press conferences I don't want players coming here on trial. I want people here and in on July the 2nd when we come back. I want the squad more or less done. People know where they are then."
Darlington announced their pre-season plans earlier in the week. The club are set to play four home games against Sunderland, Grenta, Middlesbrough and Leeds United. With only two select XI fixtures on the horizon it is clear Penney means business.
"The first game they will probably only play forty-five minutes each but everyone will be at that stage so I can build them in. I do like to get it altogether and everyone knows we are together from day one and we won't have people coming and going," confirmed the Darlington boss.
