Quakers: there is still a chance (From The Northern Echo)

Quakers: there is still a chance

7:37pm Monday 16th January 2012 in Peter Barron By Peter Barron

THE fact that Darlington Football Club is not dead tonight is due to a lot of hard work put in by a number of local people with the interests of the town at heart.

I also believe that it is because administrator Harvey Madden is a sports enthusiast who is bending over backwards to avoid being the man who sounds the death knell for the club.

The Quakers could easily have been liquidated today and yet the door has been left open for a possible deal to be pushed through.

I feel for manager Craig Liddle and the players whose contracts have been terminated. But, again, the administrator is hopeful of them being re-appointed if new funding arrangements can be secured.

The club's future hinges on an out-of-town investor agreeing to meet the running costs of the club for another few months.

To do that they have to be sufficiently encouraged by the prospect of getting the go-ahead for an eco-friendly housing development on the Neasham Road site of the Northern Echo Arena.

My understanding is that initial talks with Darlington Borough Council today have provided that encouragement, so further talks are to take place over the next two days between the investor and the administrator.

I also understand that the owners of the stadium and surrounding land have indicated that they are willing to stand aside, as long as they get their £2m investment returned as part of any deal.

I know the name of the new investor but I am not at liberty to publish it. However, I am confident he is serious and has the necessary funds.

Darlington Football Club's 128-year existence hangs in the balance tonight - but there is still a chance that it can be saved.

And if it is to close, it will not have been for a lack of imagination or effort by a relatively small group of people who have been playing a blinder on behalf of Darlington and its football club.