Darlington Football Club's new stadium has been given the go-ahead to open on Saturday - but will have a temporary capacity of only 11,000.

Council bosses will tomorrow issue the crucial safety certificate allowing the Reynolds Arena to open in time for the match against Kidderminster Harriers.

But more than half of the 27,500-seater ground will be empty because further work needs to be carried out.

The news comes as the Quakers hope for strong support, following their heroic Carling Cup victory over First Division Bradford City on Tuesday.

Officials at Darlington Borough Council were only considering allowing a capacity of 16,500 because work on the North Stand has yet to be completed.

But they said there were only sufficient facilities to cater for 11,000 and that would be the capacity for Saturday's inaugural match. A council spokesman said: "The work that needs to be done on the North Stand is just on floors and fitting it out.

"Because of segregation of fans and certain amounts of seating that can't be used, this will be the capacity for now."

Campaigners in the Neasham Road area hit out at the council's decision to issue the certificate, saying the ground should not be allowed to take more than 10,000 fans as certain planning conditions had not been met.

The club said it did not want to comment until the certificate from the council had been received.