The board of directors of Darlington Football Club would like to announce that manager Martin Gray has signed a new five year contract with the club.

The club is absolutely delighted that Martin has agreed a new deal, as he has achieved a magnificent amount since he took charge in the summer of 2012, guiding the club to three promotions in four years, establishing it as a force to be reckoned with in national non league football, and enhancing its reputation as a community club.

We now see him as the ideal man to take charge of the team as we embark upon a new exciting period in the club’s history with the imminent move back to Blackwell Meadows in the town.

Martin, who recently passed the 200 game landmark in charge, said; “The biggest reason why I signed a new deal was because of the club’s impending return to Darlington and all the potential that goes with it. I have been approached by a Football League club and a Vanarama National League club in the last six months, and I have turned them both down for that reason. My desire for this club is far greater than the opportunities which came up.

“Moving to Blackwell Meadows means that we can continue to build the club on the foundations that we’ve laid over the last four years. As manager, I also have aspirations of taking the club back to the Football League, which is the job I set out to do back in 2012.

“I am happy with the way the club is going. It has made great progress over the last six months in many different ways on and off the field. We have a great board, a hard working bunch of volunteers and fantastic supporters, who have stood by the club in many ways since we were relegated to the Northern League.”