FORMER Darlington chairman Raj Singh is pushing to have taken over Hartlepool United by the weekend amid fears the club could fall into administration.

Singh has been in discussions aimed at taking over at Victoria Park for a number of weeks and has been looking to put together a consortium capable of bringing brighter times to the club.

He is believed to be ready to name Craig Hignett, Hartlepool’s previous manager, as the director of football and is looking to finalise things this week.

Hartlepool have been desperate for investment and would-be owners have been put off by the club’s debts.

But Singh, a long term associate of Hignett, has been the one constant figure interested in becoming the new owner.

He hopes that further progress can be made knowing that time is running out to save the club from slipping into administration.

Chairwoman Pam Duxbury held talks with Singh last week and there will be further discussions in the early part of this week.

Hignett lost his job at Hartlepool in January last year but was unfortunate to be in charge at a time when the problems were starting under ex-chairman Gary Coxall.

He was sat at Fylde on Saturday when caretaker manager Matthew Bates oversaw a hard-earned 3-3 draw when Devante Rodney equalised deep into stoppage time.

Bates had not been expected to stay in charge for long but the former Middlesbrough defender is well liked within the dressing room. He has also secured two draws after appointing Ged McNamee and Ross Turnbull to help him out in the battle to prevent National League North football.

Hartlepool remain a club deep in trouble and Singh and Duxbury are pressing to get something firmed up.

Singh is working with Sky Sports presenter Jeff Stelling in the hope of striking a deal with the club’s owner John Blackledge.