Quakers shares fly off the shelves (From The Northern Echo)

Quakers shares fly off the shelves

8:00am Friday 17th February 2012 in News By Joe Willis, Regional chief reporter

A HISTORIC shares issue in a new company formed to buy a North-East football club was yesterday embraced by fans eager to purchase a stake in their club.

By 6pm last night, 44 fans had invested £9,400 in Darlington FC 1883 Ltd (DFC 1883). However, Crowdcube, the company handling the shares scheme, still had more than 100 pledges to process.

This money is as well as £70,000 already collected by supporters’ groups.

It is hoped that £750,000 can be raised by April 30 to buy Quakers football club and take it out of administration.

Last night, Shaun Campbell, spokeman for DFC 1883, said he was “pleased and optimistic”

with progress after the first day of the shares sale. He said: “The fundraising is going very well, it’s all looking very positive and we are very pleased.”

Despite the shares issue getting off to a flying start, the launch took place yesterday against a backdrop of a looming crisis over players’ pay.

Caretaker manager Craig Liddle and the remaining eight senior players will today hold talks with administrator Harvey Madden and representatives from DFC 1883. Players are unhappy that they have been offered fees of only £200, minus tax, per game.

Members of DFC 1883 hope the fundraising total will be boosted by about £40,000 held by Darlington Supporters’ Trust.

The money was donated by fans and supporters when the Quakers went into administration in 2003.

The trust yesterday issued a statement confirming it was aware of the new company.

It added: “As we have always said, we will support any viable and workable plan to ensure the continuation of football in Darlington.”

The trust said it had received an approach from a representative of DFC 1883.

“We have indicated to them in response in a private email that we are prepared to enter into discussions about their proposals with the directors of the company,” the statement said.

“Obviously, more information is required concerning legal and financial details, and the role of supporters, before we can make any recommendations to our members.”

DFC 1883 yesterday confirmed it would continue playing games at the Darlington Arena in the short-term once it took control of the club.

A deal has been signed with the stadium owners, Philip Scott and Graham Sizer, through their company Darlington Arena Limited.

A spokesman for the company said: “We agreed terms with the Darlington Football Club Rescue Group (which formed DFC 1883), which has enabled them to proceed with the share issue.

“We wish them the best of luck with this initiative.”