 An injury sustained in a 1–0 defeat of Queens Park Rangers on 4 February 1950 put an early end to his 1949–50 season, and although a regular selection in August and September 1950 he picked up an injury while contributing two own goals to a 5–3 loss at home to Sheffield United, lost his place, and rarely regained it.He played just nine more league matches over the next two-and-a-half years.Devlin returned to the north-east to sign for Third Division North club Darlington in 1953.