A former football club chairman was sent for trial today on charges of money laundering.

George Reynolds, the 68-year-old former Darlington Football club chairman, appeared at Bishop Auckland Magistrates' Court with his cousin Richard Tennick, 58, and 43-year-old personal assistant Ian Robinson, who are all charged with conspiracy to launder money.

Reynolds also faces further charges of evasion of a liability, attempted evasion of a liability and another charge of money laundering under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

The charges were brought after £500,000 in cash was recovered from a car in County Durham in June.

The men were arrested when police officers stopped the car as it travelled through High Etherley, near Bishop Auckland.

Reynolds, of Monument Court, Durham City, Tennick, of Bowling Green Lane, Manfield, North Yorkshire, and Robinson, of Fulton Court, Shildon, County Durham, were all granted unconditional bail.

No pleas were entered and reporting restrictions were not lifted.

The hearing was adjourned until December 20 when the three men are due to appear at Teesside Crown Court.

After the hearing Reynolds maintained that he is being ''victimised'' by police and the case is a ''witch hunt''.

Reynolds bought Darlington FC in 1999 and oversaw the club's move from its Feethams Ground to the £20 million all-seater Reynolds Arena on the outskirts of the market town.

The Sunderland-born businessman, previously of Witton Hall, Witton-le-Wear, County Durham, quit as chairman in January when Darlington went into administration.

The ground has since been renamed the Williamson Motors Stadium and the Sterling Consortium has taken over the club after it was threatened with liquidation.