WE said on the day Darlington Football Club was placed in administration that the only way forward for the Quakers was without George Reynolds, who had lost the support of fans, local businesses and the wider community.

And the removal of Mr Reynolds' name from the side of the stadium yesterday symbolises the end of the most controversial era in the history of Darlington FC.

We never argued against the stadium bearing his name. After all, he saved the club and built a stadium many first division clubs would be proud of. Whatever it is called, he made it happen.

But once the dream ended in a financial and public relations disaster, it was inevitable that there would have to be a change to mark a new and, hopefully, happier chapter.

The club's association with the Reynolds name has proved a deterrent to businesses, and the new owners naturally see the stadium name as a way of generating sponsorship which will be crucial to the long-term survival of the club.

Sterling loaned the club £4m to complete the stadium. The loan was not repaid and the consortium took over ownership of the arena. Just as it was Mr Reynolds' right to name the stadium whatever he wanted while it belonged to him, it is now Sterling's prerogative.

But despite our differences with Mr Reynolds, we acknowledge the sadness in the sorry end to his involvement with the Quakers which once promised so much.

It is deeply ironic that a man who famously used a giant noticeboard outside the stadium to castigate those he saw as his detractors, is no longer allowed to have his name attached to the stadium he built in his field of dreams.