A PLOT by Hartlepool United fans to rig a poll to find a new name for bitter rivals Darlington has been foiled.

Moderators spotted suspicious voting patterns on the official on-line ballot, with a surge of support for one of the more unusual options – Locomotive Darlington.

Darlington FC 1883 board member Laura Drew, who is responsible for the poll, said the internet protocol computer addresses for many of the voters could be traced back to the Hartlepool area.

Evidence of repeat voting has also been discovered, with one user voting more than 30 times.

Last night, it appeared the plot had spread to The Northern Echo’s own online poll after a link to the vote appeared on a Hartlepool United fans’ forum.

The link was accompanied with the message: “Vote for it (Locomotive Darlington) and pass it on to you friends – we can get this as a winner.”

Darlington AFC initially appeared to be the fans’ favourite on the Echo poll, but a surge of votes for Locomotive Darlington made the alternative name the frontrunner.

The club was yesterday awaiting further guidance from the Football Association (FA) on how long it had to choose a name and what options would be allowed.

The FA’s initial correspondence said the decision had to be made “sooner rather than later”.

Ms Drew said: “The reason we got the poll out so quickly was in case the FA wanted a decision on the new name immediately and we did not have an indication of fans’ views.

“We’re now hoping we’ve got a little more time.”

The club is planning to reduce the options down to four or five of the most popular names over the weekend and continue the poll for several more days.

The results of The Northern Echo’s online and coupon poll will be passed to DFC 1883 for consideration.

The club is being forced to change its name by the FA, which has ruled that the club is a new entity to the one which finished last season.

Last night, Andrew Cawkwell, DFC 1883 solicitor, said he felt the FA’s decision could be challenged in court, but it would not be a good use of the club’s limited resources.

The FA again declined to comment on its ruling.

One name already forged in club's history

THE Quakers have not always be known as Darlington FC, a review of the club’s 129-year history reveals.

Although Darlington FC had been a success in the North Eastern League prior to the First World War, increasing debts had left the club facing collapse.

In 1918, representatives of Sunderland, Middlesbrough, Newcastle United, South Shields, Scotswood and Durham City clubs decided to launch a new Northern Victory League. They invited Hartlepools United and Darlington to take part.

Hartlepools agreed to join, but no one could be found to run the Darlington team.

At the last moment, JB Haw, former Darlington Forge worker and landlord of the Forge Tavern in Albert Hill, came forward.

On January 3, 1919, Victory league unanimously elected Darlington Forge Albion as their final opponents.

After a poor start, the club won five of their remaining nine matches, including a 2- 0 victory at St James’ Park.

Mr Haw also invested in the Feethams stadium, completing the East Stand.

For the 1919-20 season, Mr Haw reverted to calling his club Darlington FC.