HOPES are growing that the community takeover of Darlington FC could be imminent after “extremely positive” talks were held with outgoing chairman Raj Singh.

Darlington FC 1883 (DFC 1883) interim chairman Denis Pinnegar announced today that a broad agreement had been made with Mr Singh during talks on Wednesday.

It is hoped a company voluntary arrangement (CVA) can now be agreed with Mr Singh, who is the football club’s largest creditor.

Mr Pinnegar said: “An extremely positive meeting took place on Wednesday evening between Raj Singh, myself as interim chairman of DFC 1883 and our legal teams.

“Broad agreement was reached which should lead to the successful completion of the CVA to the satisfaction of the administrator, DFC 1883 and Mr Singh to bring Darlington Football Club out of administration.

“Both sets of lawyers agreed that the agreement was a practical solution to a very complex situation.”

Mr Singh wants a share if the club benefited from any redevelopment of The Northern Echo Darlington Arena site.

He has also requested money due if certain clauses in the contract of former Quakers defender Dan Burn, who was sold to Fulham last summer, are met.

DFC 1883 agreed to the conditions, however it later emerged that the Football Association would not accept them.

Craig McKenna, DFC 1883 project manager, said: “We will now be taking these solutions to the FA and are optimistic the FA will see this as an acceptable way forward without the club facing undue penalties.”