We must explore every option to save the Quakers (From The Northern Echo)

We must explore every option to save the Quakers

8:06pm Wednesday 4th January 2012 in Peter Barron By Peter Barron

As it stands, everyone loses if Darlington Football Club goes out of business.

Chairman Raj Singh loses his considerable personal investment, the supporters lose their club, the borough council and the owners of the stadium and surrounding land end up with an embarrssing white elephant, Darlington Cricket Club remains deadlocked over its proposed development of Feethams, and the town loses 128 years of sporting heritage.

Here at The Northern Echo, we do not pretend to have the magic solution that is going to save the Quakers from having to start again at the bottom of the football pyramid.

What we do know is that time is running out fast and Darlington Football Club should not be allowed to die without every possible option being explored.

That includes an imaginative review of planning regulations for the site to see if anything can be done to unlock a deal which would retain a professional football club and benefit taxpayers.

It also includes urgent consideration of what the future realistically holds for the Feethams site, which was left by the Victorian Quakers for the recreational use of the people of the town but now stands as an eyesore.

Anyone who is in a position of influence or authority, and who cares about the great town of Darlington, needs to engage in exploring those options with an open mind.

If, ultimately, the paths lead nowehere, at least we can all say we tried.