TOM PORTAS predicts Darlington find the step up to the Evo-Stik Premier Division will be tough, though says his team should set their sights on again finishing in the play-offs.

Quakers were promoted a month ago after winning the play-off final, meaning the midfielder will return to the level he dropped down from when joining Darlington 12 months ago from Whitby Town.

He had been in the Premier Division for two seasons and with that experience in mind is well-placed to offer his verdict on Quakers’ competition for the next campaign.

“It will be a lot harder in the Premier Division, because there are more teams who are capable of challenging for promotion,” said Portas, speaking in Darlington’s promotion special programme, which is released on Saturday.

“In the First Division North, there were maybe six or seven teams who were challenging for promotion, next season there will be ten or 12.

“But realistically, we should be looking to finish in the play offs. We’ve got a very good squad, and if we continue to stick together, then anything can happen.

“We certainly don’t lack goals with the strikers we have, and our defence is pretty solid.”

Graeme Armstrong, who also made the move from Whitby to Darlington a year ago, is now recovering at home after undergoing an operation on his pancreas a fortnight ago.

The procedure was necessary following a collision with Bamber Bridge goalkeeper Lee Dovey in the dying seconds of Quakers’ play-off final win, leading to almost a month in the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle for the Geordie striker.

Half of his pancreas was removed in an eight-hour op, but Armstrong has now been discharged and he used social media to say: “I would just like to thank everyone for the messages of support over the past month. I'm sorry I couldn't reply them all. But the support you have given me has been overwhelming and made a difficult four weeks a lot easier for me. All the players, staff and fans have been amazing.”

Meanwhile, goalkeeper Mark Bell has dropped back into the Northern League to join Bishop Auckland.

He was in great form when Darlington won the Northern League title in 2012-13 having joined midway through the campaign from West Auckland, but was second-choice last season to Peter Jameson.

Due to Jameson being suspended, Bell was called on for the play-off final and kept a clean sheet in a 2-0 win over Bamber Bridge.

*Quakers’ commemorative programme and a DVD looking back on the promotion-winning 2014-15 season will be launched in the Dolphin Centre, Darlington, on Saturday at 10am.

Costing £5, the 72-page programme contains interviews with the squad as well as manager Martin Gray plus various features including pictures of the play-off final celebrations, the grounds Quakers will visit next season, each player’s performance reviewed, goal of the season and much more.

The DVD, edited by Kevin Luff, is £12, but bought together with the programme the price will be £15, a saving of £2.