Reynolds shows caution after Taylor's removal

Darlington have sacked their manager Tommy Taylor after a poor start to the season. The Quakers have won just three of their first 14 League games to leave them in 20th position in the Third Division.

Taylor's final game in charge was the 1-0 defeat to Stockport County in the LDV Vans Trophy first-round tie on Tuesday. He took charge last October but his side won only 15 of the 53 games played since then.

The chairman, George Reynolds, said Taylor's departure would allow the club to move forward, but insisted they would not rush into a new appointment. "We've got to move forward. He's gone now, thank God, but we won't rush into an appointment, we'll look carefully for the right man for the job. There are thousands of players and managers out there and I'm sure the phone will be alive tomorrow and applications will come in, and we'll go through them thoroughly and methodically," Reynolds said.

Reynolds, who earlier this season tried to bring the Colombian striker Faustino Asprilla to Feethams, indicated that he would be looking for a man who understands what football means to avid Darlington supporters. He said: "I find with managers you've got to get them where their heart and soul is in it. Southern managers don't seem to gel up in the north for some reason. Up here football is religion."

Taylor's assistant, Mick Tait, will be in charge for Saturday's trip to Exeter, and Reynolds refused to rule him out of contention. "Mick is in charge for now and if he does very, very well, who knows?" he said.

Tait admits he would be "silly" not to be interested in taking over the vacant position, but is simply looking to steady the ship in his new role. He said: "It's sad that Tommy's gone, but someone has got to take charge and I'm more than happy to take control for now. I'd be silly not to want the job. When I spoke to Tommy he said he would be more than happy if I got it."