DARLINGTON MP Jenny Chapman has urged members of Darlington RFC to make a decision on a proposed groundshare with the Quakers.

The politician said she feared the rugby club was getting "cold feet" over the proposed creation of a sporting hub at the town's Blackwell Meadows.

Mrs Chapman said she was frustrated by the delays in reaching an agreement over the scheme.

She added: "I fear that the rugby club is getting cold feet.

"I think it would be good to get a view from the membership at the rugby club as to their appetite of making this sports hub a reality.

"This isn't just about the football club returning to Darlington. It's about creating a hub for many different teams to develop their sports in Darlington."

The MP said time was critical for the football club.

"They're losing money and attendances are falling every moment they can't get back home. We've got to find a solution that gets the club back playing football in the town - it's becoming urgent."

Mrs Chapman said she would like to see the football club and the council being given the opportunity to present their vision for the sporting hub to the rugby club's members.

"We need to know whether there is a high level of enthusiasm for the sporting hub among the members. If there is that's great, let's get on with it. If not we can move on - we can't afford to spend another six months hoping that issues will be resolved."

In response, Mike Wilkinson, from Darlington RFC, said he could not comment at present other than say he was disappointed and frustrated with the action taken by the football club in withdrawing from negotiations.

He said he was submitting a formal reply to Darlington FC and would be able to say more once the response had been received.

He added that he had been working on plans for a sporting hub for five years - long before the football club had got involved - and he was sure that it would become a reality.

Martin Jesper, chief executive of Darlington FC,  strongly denied the football club had withdraw from negotiations.

He said he backed Mrs Chapman's suggestion of working with the council to demonstrate to the rugby club's membership the football club's view of how it would integrate into the sporting hub concept, particularly if it accelerated the return to Darlington.

"The football club is ready and able to move, and has been for some time," Mr Jesper added.