THE Quakers will play in the Northern League next season, the Football Association (FA) has decided.

The FA will relegate the club four divisions below the Blue Square Bet Premier where they played last season.

Fans’ company Darlington 1883 (DFC 1883), which bought the club for £100,000 earlier this month, had hoped the club would be placed in the Evo-Stik League Northern Premier or Division One North.

However, the FA has punished DFC 1883 for failing to obtain the football share from former owner Raj Singh.

The FA is recommending the club plays in the Northern League subject to the league's acceptance, however The Northern Echo understands Northern League bosses are happy for the club to play in their league next season and will place the club in Division One next season, meaning the Quakers will face teams such as Bishop Auckland, Spennymoor, Newton Aycliffe and Consett.

They are also set to be in the same division as Shildon, which they will share a ground with during 2011/12 after deciding to leave the Darlington Arena.

DFC 1883 confirmed it had been told by the FA that its future as a community football club would start in the Northern League.

Craig Mckenna, DFC 1883 project manager said: “We had appraised all potential outcomes and have produced plans and a financial model that will work at this level and the focus now will be to get the football club back up through the leagues as quickly as possible.

“We can be inspired by clubs like Chester, Wrexham and others who have taken this journey and enjoyed great football, grounds with atmosphere and a rekindling of supporters’ enthusiasm .

“Darlington FC now has the prospect of football next season. Three times this year the club was within hours of liquidation, but the fans would not let the club die.

“2012/13 will be the clubs 130th season and we will start the journey back as a club we all own and playing in our black and white hoops.”

He added: “The Northern League will see some great away days at local grounds for our fans; it will also give us the opportunity to welcome the fans of local clubs to our temporary home. The football will be tough and competitive and we will not be taking anything for granted but we will be aiming for promotion as fast as we can.

“DFC 1883 Ltd still believe that Darlington should aspire to be a league football team and although that is going to take a bit of time, that remains the ultimate goal.”

A delegation including DFC 1883 chairman Denis Pinnegar and board member Laura Drew had argued for leniency when they met FA officials at Wembley earlier this month.

However, it is now apparent their pleas have fallen on deaf ears.

The Northern Echo revealed last week that Northern League officials had been instructed to start making preparations for the Quakers' possible inclusion.

Durham City's demotion from the Evo-Stik League means the Northern League's top flight currently has an odd number of clubs.

By installing Darlington, the FA would be preventing the need for a further reshuffle.

FA rules state that in order to leave administration and reclaim a place in the football pyramid, a club must agree a Creditors' Voluntary Agreement (CVA) with its creditors.

Despite the best efforts of DFC 1883 board members, Darlington were unable to agree a CVA as part of the deal that saw administrator Harvey Madden relinquish control of the club earlier this month.

They could not reach an agreement with the club's major creditor, former chairman Raj Singh, and inherited footballing debts relating to outstanding wages owed to the club's former players.