New hope for the Quakers (From The Northern Echo)

New hope for the Quakers

9:13pm Thursday 12th January 2012 in Peter Barron By Peter Barron

WHATEVER fate holds in store for Darlington Football Club, supporters can rest assured that a huge effort has been made to save the Quakers.

It has been heart-warming to see the way genuine, hard-working people with the club's interests at heart have worked tirelessly to try to find a rescue plan.

After I met administrator Harvey Madden this morning, I was pessimistic that the 128-year-old club could be saved from liquidation.

Mr Madden has been refreshingly open with the media and there is no doubt in my mind that he really wants to find a solution in difficult circumstances. However, with no workable offers on the table, I feared that the axe might fall as early as tomorrow.

Tonight, there is cause for greater optimism that there will at least be a stay of execution.

I applaud the work of the Darlington Football Club Rescue Group whose tireless efforts led yesterday to a financial offer being made to the administrator in the hope that the club can be given more time. The group's members deserve huge credit.

I also took a call tonight, from a trusted source, explaining that a new potential investor had emerged, although a meeting can't take place until Monday.

The Northern Echo's position all along has been that everyone in a position of influence or authority has a duty to explore every possible avenue. I am satisfied that is being done.

And, with last night's positive developments, I hope that Darlington Football Club can be given a chance.