Quakers striker hails boss Cooper.

Striker Tommy Wright has said Darlington's players have been impressed by the ideas of new manager Mark Cooper ahead of the new season.The Quakers were beaten 1-0 by a strong Sunderland side in Saturday's friendly, but Wright has faith in the former Peterborough manager's methods.

"Everyone's behind him, we've all worked hard and we see what he's trying to do with us," Cooper told BBC Tees.

"The players he's on about bringing in can only make us stronger."

Wright added: "He wants us to play in the right areas, which I don't think anyone can criticise because you want to keep clean sheets.

"We've done a lot of work on defending and hassling and hopefully that will stand us in good stead for the season."

Wright's return to County Durham after spells at Aberdeen and Grimsby sees the Quakers in Blue Square Bet Premier, out of the Football League for the first time since 1989-90.

However the striker, who joined from Barnsley in January 2007, is set on returning success to the club at the first time of asking.

"I've come back here, I had quite a good spell last time, but I don't want to settle for that," Wright added.

"I want to push on and do better and hopefully get the club back in the division is belongs in."

Wright began his career with home-town club Leicester and has since played for seven other clubs, including Darlington, making 184 league appearances and scoring 34 goals.

Source: BBC Sport