 George Eastham , who had previously been Waddington 's assistant , was appointed as manager in March 1977 , but the club 's slide into the Second Division in 1976 – 77 season proved unstoppable . Eastham did not last long , leaving in January 1978 after only 10 months in charge . The club 's misery was compounded by a defeat to non @-@ league Blyth Spartans in the FA Cup shortly afterwards . Alan Durban , arriving from Shrewsbury Town , was selected as the club 's new manager in February 1978 . Durban achieved promotion to the First Division in his first full season , 1978 – 79 , with a third @-@ place finish . After consolidating the club 's position in the First Division , Durban left for Sunderland in 1981 . 
