CARL DARLINGTON has ruled himself out of the running to be Wrexham manager.

Darlington returned to the club for a second spell as first team coach last summer after leaving Welsh Premier League champions The New Saints and was among the favourites to succeed Dean Keates who was appointed boss of hometown club Walsall on Friday.

An announcement on Wrexham’s new manager is expected before the end of the week but Darlington, who is also the Head of Coach Education For The Football Association of Wales Trust, does not want to be considered.

“I said first time around I don’t want to be manager,” said Darlington, who was caretaker manager when Kevin Wilkin was sacked in March 2015 but relieved of his coaching duties when Gary Mills took over in The Racecourse hotseat.

“Maybe one day but not for the foreseeable future.

“I enjoy doing what I am doing, I enjoy supporting the manager, supporting the team, supporting the football club, but not as a manager.

“I love my job at the FAW and the Trust, that is progressing every single year, and it is not something I want to give up to go full-time as a manager.

“I don’t really see myself as a manager long-term anyway, more of an assistant or first-team coach.”

Darlington, brought back to Wrexham by Keates, says it will be business as usual when fifth placed Wrexham continue their promotion challenge under the new management team.

“The only thing missing is Dean being there,” said Darlington. “But nothing changes from the messages within and how we prepare the players.

“We want to keep that all the way to the end of the season because we have done well so far by keeping that model and structure.”

Darlington and Davies took temporary charge for Saturday’s 2-2 draw at Woking when Wrexham produced one of their best attacking performances of the season.

Midfielders Paul Rutherford and Marcus Kelly were on target but Wrexham conceded two goals from set-pieces and had to settle for a share of the spoils.

“It is always a concern when a manager leaves a club and how the players are going to react but the players in that changing room are fantastic,” added Darlington.

“They have got fantastic attitudes; all in it for the right reasons, all in it for the football club, to make sure we get success and promotion which is the aim.

“You could see that desire against Woking. They are no mugs at home and we completely dominated the game from start to finish, in and out of possession.

“We created some great chances, should have scored a lot more goals than we did to finish the game off but unfortunately we didn’t and we got done by two set-plays which has been a bit of a downfall for us lately.

“That is something we are going to concentrate on this week moving forward but if we can take that performance into the game on Saturday, I don’t think we will go far wrong.”

Maidstone United are the visitors to The Racecourse this weekend and Darlington stressed the importance of supporters getting behind the players in the final eight matches.

“We are right at the business end of the season, we have got eight games to go and we need the fans more than we have ever needed them,” added Darlington.

“This group of players are special, what we have done this season compared to last season and previous seasons is special and we just hope everyone comes and supports us through thick and thin for the rest of the season.”