HIS reluctance to take the first-team job on a permanent basis persists, but Craig Liddle admits he is thriving on managing Darlington’s senior and junior sides.

The Quakers are at Kettering Town tonight.

Caretaker boss Liddle has overseen something of a revival in the first-team’s fortunes – though they drew 0-0 with Forest Green Rovers on Saturday.

However, while he prefers to remain out of the managerial spotlight, he does confess to having revelled in the dual-role and the response which has followed from supporters.

Liddle said: “I probably do thrive on it a little bit.

“Throughout my career the fans have always been behind me.

“I am proud the supporters feel that way about me and I will everything I can not to let them down.

“It is tiring, I got back from Wrexham at 3am last Thursday and I was in at 9am with the youth team because I think I have a duty to the boys to keep them on track. Looking at Steve Bruce, that is why I am happy in my youth-team role.

“It is a job (first-team management) where you know one day you are going to be sacked.

“I have to produce results at youth team level as well, in terms of bringing players through.

“At the top end it is results-orientated and you can play fantastically and lose 1-0 and nobody’s concerned about how well you are playing.

“It is about getting points on the board.

“I feel for Steve but that is what pushes me towards staying in youth team football and trying to develop the young lads.

“I will do it (both jobs) until the chairman tells me otherwise.

“I have not moaned yet and I will not moan. I am not asking for players, I am just getting on with the job I do.”