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Leading scorer Barry Conlon last night left Darlington, who hope to sign his replacement in time for tomorrow's game at home to Peterborough United.
Just six months after returning to the club, the six-goal striker joined Mansfield Town on a free transfer.
He has been signed to replace Ritchie Barker, who moved to Hartlepool last week for £80,000.
In his previous three-season spell with Darlington, the Dublin-born striker scored 42 goals and started this campaign with a hat-trick on the opening day against Macclesfield Town.
But it's been downhill since, scoring just three more goals, two of which were penalties and the other a tap-in at Boston United. He failed to find the net in his last 15 games.
Penney admits to having been a fan of Conlon, 28, during the striker's spell at Quakers from 2001 to 2004, but says he has not been so impressed this time around.
"I've not seen the Barry Conlon I knew," said Penney. "When he was here last time I liked him and when he was at Barnsley, which was local to me, I liked what I saw then too, but for whatever reason he hasn't done it this season, certainly not since I've been at the club.
"Sometimes they say never go back, supporters have their expectations.
"It has not really happened for him in the time I have been here and I was slightly disappointed with the reaction he got from the fans when he came on as a sub in one of the games which surprised me.
"That's not the reason he's gone, he's gone because he hasn't scored goals since I've been here and hasn't looked effective.
"I do normally like to play with a big striker and one smaller striker, but it hasn't really happened for him this year."