DARLINGTON supporters are closing in on the fundraising target required to pay for new seats at Blackwell Meadows.

Less than £4,500 is now needed, with close to £3,000 having been donated this week alone.

The boards of Darlington Football Club and Darlington FC Supporters Group this week announced an alteration to the fundraising drive, switching focus to raising funds for seats instead of the steelwork for the stand.

This means the stand will initially be erected without a roof.

A statement read: The boards of Darlington Football Club and Darlington FC Supporters Group have considered how the fundraising push is currently going and as a result have decided that the priority should be to direct the current fundraising round to purchasing and installing the seats, rather than the structural steel and cladding, which had been the original plan.

“Installing the seats, albeit without a roof initially, would help to improve the match-day experience and in particular make it more attractive for young families to attend.

“The provision of the seats will be an immediate and lasting asset to the football club. Once this target is reached we will immediately open the final round of fundraising for the purchase and installation of a roof over the new stand.

“The good news is that the total cost of providing the seats without the roof is only £38,300.

“This is definitely achievable by a number of ways.

“Supporters can pledge to the successful Community Share scheme (minimum investment £100); or donate to the Ground Development Fund.

"Details can be found on the DFCSG fundraising platform at: https://fundraising.darlingtonfcsupportersgroup.org/

“However, there is also another way. So far 886 DFCSG members have renewed their membership for this season, leaving 258 members still to renew.

“If each member renewed, DFCSG would be able to donate another £5,160 directly to Ground Development Fund.

“Similarly, every 40 new members that sign-up to DFCSG would generate another £1,000 for the Ground Development fund.”