RAJ SINGH has responded to the statement made by George Houghton in yesterday’s edition of The Northern Echo by blaming his predecessor for Darlington’s desperate plight this season.

Houghton urged the new regime to invest £6m to recruit new players and called for club captain Steve Foster to be reinstated to the first team in a bid to stave off relegation this season.

The current chairman labelled Houghton’s comments “extremely disappointing”

but insists he does not want to stir up a war of words between the pair.

Nevertheless, Singh attacked Houghton’s record as a businessman and his decision last March to place the club in administration.

He believes that Darlington’s current position at the foot of League Two, 11 points from safety, stems from Houghton’s tenure in charge.

“I’m reluctant to get into a slagging match here, but I will say I have my own way of doing business, and Mr Houghton has his,” noted Singh highlighted Houghton’s history of becoming involved in businesses that have subsequently entered administration.

He alleged: “I’d never before been involved in administration or liquidation before our experience earlier in the year, and Mr Houghton is now into double figures with his various businesses.

“That says a lot about how he runs his affairs, and the job he did here at Darlington FC.”

In Singh’s opinion the protracted wrangling that prevented him from succeeding Houghton last summer hampered the club’s efforts to prepare for the current campaign.

Houghton turned down repeated bids from Singh to take control of the club before finally accepting an offer in July that gave the new chairman less than two weeks to appoint a manager and rebuild the first team squad.

Singh added: “At the end of the day we’re in this situation because of him. If Mr Houghton had the club at heart as he claims to, he would have done a deal with me a lot earlier and we would have had more time to prepare at the start of the season rather than chasing our tails.”

Last month a finance company sued Houghton for £391,000, money it claimed had been provided for player wages.

A High Court writ was issued against the former Darlington chairman by Quest 4 Finance, of Reading, Berkshire.

Houghton has denied owing the company any money.

■ Darlington have extended the club’s Christmas ticket initiative after Saturday’s game against Northampton was postponed.

It means supporters can still take advantage of the offer, with the offer made available for the games against Lincoln on December 28, Port Vale on January 2 and now Aldershot on January 16.

Current Christmas ticket holders who can’t make the re-arranged Northampton date of January 26 can also swap that game for the Aldershot match.

The deal gives season ticket holders the chance to buy one ticket for the three games for friends or family for £30, a saving of £24 per person on matchday prices, while non-season ticket holders can also make savings, with the three-match ticket available on general sale for £35 each, a saving of £19 on matchday prices, or £30 each if bought in a group of four or more.

It also enables concessions to purchase the three-game ticket for £20, a saving of £16, while Under-16s can save £19, with the three-game ticket available to them for £5.

Tickets can be purchased from the ticket office at The Northern Echo Arena or the Cornmill Centre, or by calling 0871 855 1883.

■ Cheltenham have appointed Mark Yates as their new manager.

The Robins have agreed a compensation package with Blue Square Premier side Kidderminster for Yates and assistant Neil Howarth to link up at Whaddon Road.

Howarth will take the role of first-team coach at the Coca-Cola League Two outfit with acting manager John Schofield becoming Yates’ new right-hand man.

Schofield had been in temporary charge since the end of October when Cheltenham initially placed Martin Allen on gardening leave. He left by mutual consent after being formally cleared by the club of alleged racial misconduct.