TEN businesses are being sought to invest £10,000 each to help save the Quakers, as supporters are warned that efforts to secure the club’s future are “on a knife edge”.

The Ten-4-Ten scheme was announced yesterday as administrator Harvey Madden joined Darlington FC 1883 (DFC 1883) leaders and MP Jenny Chapman to issue a fresh rallying call for fans to get behind the club.

Darlington-based health care provider, the Priory Group, became the first business to sign up and follow the lead set by The Northern Echo by pledging £10,000.

Despite the investment boost, Mark Meynell, from DFC 1883, admitted that the club was facing an “emergency”, with poor attendances at games and the club’s debts at about £200,000 higher than initially calculated before all creditors had come forward.

He said that the DFC 1883 business plan was evolving to take account of new information, with crowds of between 1,900 and 2,200 believed to be sufficient to make the club sustainable in the long-term.

“We did increase our position quite substantially because we knew there would be other creditors coming out of the woodwork, but nevertheless the current creditor situation is £60,000 higher than our worst-case scenario.

“I think people need to realise we’re not over the line by any means. The whole process is still on a knife-edge.

“Everybody is working hard to make this success, but as ever with Darlington Football Club, it’s two steps forward and one back.”

Mr Meynell told the press conference that the crowd at Tuesday’s game against Luton was very disappointing and it was crucial that attendances improved for the last five games of the season.

This message was repeated by Darlington’s MP.

Mrs Chapman said: “The most important thing that we need to do now is increase attendances at the matches. We can’t sustain this club on the levels we had on Tuesday night.”

In a bid to increase attendances, Mr Madden announced that tickets would be reduced to £15 for adults, £10 for concessions and £5 for children for the rest of the season.

Further plans for the Save Darlo Day on April 7 were also revealed.

Pupils at Carmel and Whinfield schools – the schools which raised the most money during the non-school uniform day – will be offered free tickets to the game against Grimsby Town. Children will need to be accompanied by an adult, who will be able to buy a ticket for £10.

Clubs and pubs are being urged to raise money ahead of the day, with drinkers at the pub who raised the most offered an executive box for free.

A box will also be offered to the pub or club which comes up with the quirkiest idea.

Mr Madden said: “The Save Darlo Day is something we’re committed to do and we want people to vote with their feet.

“That will be the day to show whether the town wants a club – it’s a cry for help.”

􀁧 Are you planning any fundraising initiatives to help Darlington Football Club? Let us know by emailing joe.willis@nne.co.uk or calling 01325-381313.