I spoke with the administrator earlier this week and he painted a very clear of how the club's situation lies. The administrators have been fantastic, they've been very open with me and although I don't normally make comments unless they have some foundation, after that meeting I'm pretty comfortable in saying the club will survive.

This football club will survive and at the same time, hopefully, the football team will remain in the Football League.

They say Rome wasn't built in a day and I can say the same about this football club. Like in previous years it will grow and grow, it will get better and I can guarantee that to everybody.

There was a story in The Northern Echo raising the possibility that George Reynolds may return.

On that issue I'd like to say that what may or may not happen is in the future, right now we need the support of the fans.

Some have said they'll have nothing to do with the club if he returns. But the bottom line is, this is Darlington Football Club and we need the supporters just as much as we needed then last week and the week before.

After speaking to the administrator I feel that what was said was a major boost for us off the field, but what happened on the pitch last week was huge for the club, the supporters and myself.

It started with the charity matches and ended with that win against Rochdale, both of which were vital for us all.

After the win against Rochdale I looked up at the stands and noticed all the fans were standing up and cheering - the players deserved that and they deserved the victory.

Recently they've been playing with the same levels of desire and commitment they showed against Rochdale but have been coming out of matches with no points.

All credit to Andrew Thompson, the groundsman, for getting the pitch into the condition it was in. Indeed, we were one of the few clubs in the region to stage a game last week - well done Tommo.

Congratulations to Ian Clark, too, because he's taken his chance since getting back into the team.

I didn't see Clarky's celebration after the goal, but I have been told that he dived into a puddle at the side of the pitch - I was too busy to notice, jumping around like a madman.

Clarky was extremely concerned when I came back to the club in November that he'd be one of the first out of the door because of an incident between us that happened after the first-leg of the play-offs at Hartlepool in May 2000.

He was playing for Pool that day and after the match, which we won 2-0, I went in to the home dressing room and - I wasn't gloating - congratulated them on reaching the play-offs after being second bottom in October. Ian didn't take too kindly to what I said and, shall we say, asked me to leave!

But I never get personal with players, even though he played for Hartlepool.

Taking into account another incident of mine in 1999/00 - when I received a 42-day touchline ban for something that happened at Lincoln - I was really concerned about the disciplinary hearing on Wednesday after comments I made to an official at Swansea in November.

I don't know whether the FA were lenient on us because of our circumstances, but I came away with no ban or fine.

I was gobsmacked because when you use language to an official like I did you really should be punished. But I'm not complaining.

It turned into a courtroom atmosphere and by the end I was feeling sorry for the official who reported me in the first place because he was given a real grilling.

I'd like to show my appreciation to The Northern Echo for the money they raised last week. £22,850 was a tremendous amount and is fully-appreciated.

And big thanks go to Sunderland and Mick McCarthy for allowing us to have Neil Teggart for free.

They're paying his wages while he's here on loan, even though the can't play unless we reduce the squad, and that is superb of them.

Also, congratulations to my old club, Middlesbrough, on reaching the League Cup final. Steve McClaren and all the backroom staff deserve praise, I hope they enjoy their day in Cardiff and I hope they come back with the trophy.

Read more about the Quakers here.