Darlington are to sign left-back Ian Watson from Blyth Spartans.

The 28-year-old has had his registration with Blyth cancelled and is expected to make his Darlington debut tomorrow evening against Harrogate RA.

The transfer was agreed at the weekend and Darlington expected to confirm it on Sunday or Monday, though an announcement was delayed due to an administration issue.

Watson impressed Quakers boss Martin Gray when his side faced Blyth in the FA Cup over two games earlier this month and with injury problems and form being an issue of late, the manager decided to take action.

Leon Scott has stood in at left-back for three games because Terry Galbraith has been sidelined with a broken toe, suffered in the Cup replay against Blyth.

Galbraith is nearing a return to action however, Watson, a former team-mate of Gary Brown when at Shildon, can be expected to come straight into Darlington’s starting XI at Heritage Park on Wednesday evening.

Watson used Twitter this morning to say: “Really sad to be leaving Blyth Spartans. Loved every second of it and all the people there. Would like to thank everyone at the club. At the same time, really excited for what lies ahead.”

The left-back signed for Blyth in August 2013 from Whitley Bay and made 44 appearances in his first season, scoring one goal.

His final appearance at Croft Park was against Darlington, but he was unavailable to play on Saturday when Blyth won 4-1 at Skelmersdale United in the FA Cup.

Watson’s arrival puts the immediate future of Galbraith into question. Having played in centre-midfield after joining Darlington from Dunston UTS midway through 2012-13, he reverted to left-back in the ninth league game of last season.

Gray could opt to return him to the centre of the pitch, a move that would surely limit Jordan Robinson’s involvement in the first-choice XI.