UNDER-fire Darlington chairman George Reynolds last night took the extraordinary step of banning unaccompanied youngsters from supporting their team from the home end.

Mr Reynolds was the target of protests from the Feethams' terraces during Saturday's 0-3 defeat at the hands of Chesterfield.

He left the game midway through the second-half because, it was claimed, he feared for his family's safety amid terrace chants.

After the game, about 50 fans stayed behind at the home end - known as the Tin Shed - to demonstrate against Mr Reynolds and manager Gary Bennett.

The protest ended peacefully after 20 minutes. No arrests were made.

Now under-18s are to be banned from watching from behind the goal unless accompanied by an adult.

The unprecedented announcement takes effect for the home game with Southend on February 6.

Following a meeting with the chairman last night, Darlington's director of football, Luke Raine, said: "The club wants to clear out the hooligans from the Tin Shed and instead create a family-type atmosphere where people will feel safe."

Season ticket holders will be exempt from the ruling, and the announcement does not prevent youngsters from watching the game from either the East Stand or the South Terrace.

However, the move has infuriated the fans. Peter Thorns, chairman of the supporters' club, described the move as "ridiculous" and added Feethams did not even have a family enclosure. "It's been a tradition as long as I've been going, that the younger fans go behind the goal," he said.

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