DARLINGTON will today have their appeal heard by the Football Association regarding exclusion from the play-offs.

The National League have said that Quakers, who are fourth in the table, are not eligible as they did not have 500 seats under cover at Blackwell Meadows by the March 31 deadline.

Quakers lodged the appeal on Thursday and the case will be heard at Wembley Stadium, the FA’s headquarters.

Poole Town and Hungerford Town of the National League South, who are in similar situations, are to hear their appeals too.

Among the main arguments in Quakers’ appeal regard a rule requiring additional seating being in excess of the Category B requirements, which is only applied at the tier Darlington compete at. At other tiers, promoted clubs have until March 31 in the year following promotion in order to meet any additional ground grading standards.

Also, Darlington say: “In order for clubs to participate in the National League North/South playoffs they are effectively required to invest significant amounts of money on covered seating with no guarantee of a playoff spot as of March 31 in that season, let alone promotion.”

Furthermore, the board say they say relied on a ground grading report in December that referred to “500 seats”, but no reference was made in that report to requiring the seats to be “covered”.

Darlington end their season on Saturday at Salford City, and a point would secure their place in the top five.

Meanwhile, the Darlington FC Supporters Group is well on the way to raising the targeted £42,000 to pay for an overhaul of the Blackwell Meadows pitch comprising drainage and surfacing works.

Fundraising began last Friday and at the time of writing £30,076 had been pledged. Pledges turn into community shares should the target be met by the May 15 deadline.