A FORMER England footballer and joint owner of non-league club Salford City claims Quakers fans caused £10,000 worth of damage to his club's ground.

Ex-Manchester United defender Gary Neville tweeted to his 2.2 million followers that Darlington FC supporters caused the damage during the club's 2-0 loss to the Greater Manchester club on Saturday.

But Darlington FC officials say they have not heard from the Salford City directly and have suggested their club should not get all the blame for problems during the fixture.

Police confirmed they were called to a "skirmish" during the match, although no arrests were made.

Salford City's chairwoman Karen Baird later claimed one of the stands at the ground had been "totally ruined" by Darlington fans after they ripped down new signs.

She said photographs had been taken and a letter detailing the damage would be sent to Darlington FC.

However, Quakers chairman Martin Jesper said he was disappointed the North-West club had not spoken to him or other officials before releasing details of the damage.

He said: "It's disappointing that the club should feel it appropriate to go directly to the press. We have heard nothing from the club.

"Everybody has got a slightly different version of what happened. I don't want to jump to any conclusions but I would be disappointed if Darlington got the finger pointed at them in isolation."

Two players were sent off during the game, while manager Martin Gray and assistant manager Brian Atkinson were both sent to the stands by the referee

Regarding disciplinary issues on the pitch and in the dug out, Mr Jesper said: "The board will sit down with Martin and Brian to understand exactly what happened and take the appropriate action going forward."

The trouble at Salford overshadowed the publication of plans to redevelop Darlington RFC's Blackwell Meadows site, ahead of the club's proposed groundshare with the Quakers from the start of next season.

The planning application for the work has been validated and can now be viewed on-line at www.darlington.gov.uk/environment-and-planning/planning/ using reference 14/01251/FUL.

This first phase of improvements will ensure the ground can hold 2,500 spectators, with potential for up to 3,000.

Parking for an extra 250 vehicles will be created, as well as new changing rooms, a new entrance to the club house and turnstiles.

Terraced seating will built on the south of the ground, while posts from the old Tin Shed stand at Feethams will be used to construct covered a covered standing area at the west end of the pitch.