DARLINGTON Football Club's new groundshare arrangements will not be in place in time for the start of next season, it has been revealed.

Officials have insisted the plans to share Darlington Rugby Club's Blackwell Meadows ground are still going ahead.

But they will start the season playing at Heritage Park, in Bishop Auckland, before hopefully moving back to Darlington in October.

The news comes as the club announced it is to stage two pre-season friendly games at their former home this month.

The games against Sunderland and Newcastle will see the Quakers return to the Northern Echo Arena, in Darlington, the first time since 2012.

for the games this month (July).

Both Sunderland and Newcastle will be playing a select XI from various squads but have indicated they will be fielding "strong teams". The Sunderland game will be on Saturday, July 16, followed by Newcastle on Tuesday, July 19.

The announcement sparked fresh rumours that the club was heading back to the Arena – now home to Darlington Mowden RFC – for good.

But Director John Tempest denied this, saying the games were one off friendlies.

He went on to confirm that club officials were meeting with construction workers this afternoon (Friday, July 1) to agree a date to start working on its new ground at Blackwell, Darlington.

He said: “The funding is now in place and now it is a case of meeting up and deciding when the work will start.’’

Mr Tempest confirmed the target date that had been set for the club’s first league game on August Bank Holiday weekend to be at Blackwell Meadows was unlikely to be met.

He said: “We hope now that we will be in in October. We are two months behind where we wanted to be but we are getting there.’’

The club will play in the National Northern League next season.

Mr Tempest said he and fellow director Richard Cook were looking forward to bringing Darlington home.

He added: “All that remains is to sign the paperwork and we hope to announce when the work will start soon.”

Mr Tempest confirmed the club would start next season playing at Bishop Auckland, until the groundshare arrangements are complete.

He paid tribute to Bishop Auckland FC, adding: “They have been superb landlords but it is good to be coming back to Darlington.’’

And he revealed that local businesses had voiced an interest in commercial backing and he hoped that local teenagers would take more of an interest.

He said: “It is about the youngsters. There are a lot of 13 to 14-year-olds interested in football but have been unable to travel. Being back in our hometown will change that.’’

It is expected that an announcement will be made next week as to when construction work begins.