Darlington assistant Martin Gray has urged all associated with the club to focus on football despite the departure of boss Dave Penney to Oldham.

Gray will take charge of the side for the final game of the season at Chester City on Saturday and has called on his players to lift the mood.

"It's happened, we've got a game to go and important for us to finish the season on a high," he told BBC Tees.

"Dave Penney deserves his move for everything he's done for the club."

The Quakers have been in good form despite all their off-the-field problems, which started when the club were entered into administration in February 2009.

Footballing matters were also affected when the Football League imposed a 10-point penalty, effectively ending their play-off hopes.

606: DEBATE Give your reaction to Dave Penney's departure

And Gray says the manner in which they have performed since that time is down to the hard work of the players, and the outgoing Penney.

"We've done fantastic, it tells you by the results we've picked up, how well we've done," he said.

"You're playing Bury, Chesterfield, Wycombe Wanderers and going right to the last minute, and if the season finished tomorrow (without the 10-point penalty) we'd be in the last place of the play-offs.

"We would never have lost the games we've lost if we hadn't gone into administration, because initially the players heads were all over the place."

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