Soccer: Bennett resigns as Darlington boss

Darlington manager Gary Bennett has resigned from the Third Division club becoming the 18th manager to lose his job in the Premiership and Nationwide Leagues this season.

Last night’s 2-0 defeat by struggling Swansea came on the back of losses at the hands of Mansfield and Luton.

Former Sunderland defender Bennett took over in the summer of 2000 after David Hodgson resigned, but struggled in his first managerial post and the Quakers finished a disappointing 20th, only four points above relegated Barnet.

A club statement read: ‘‘Gary Bennett has decided to stand down. Following recent results he has put the future of the club before his own.

‘‘He will remain at the club at the request of the chairman reverting back to his role as chief coach, a job in which he excelled at before taking up the vacant manager’s job at the start of last season.

"He is of the opinion he is unable to achieve any more with the team and hopes his successor will take the club forward for the benefit of Darlington.’’