FANS, stewards and some of the biggest names in football are rallying round Darlington FC as the club races to be ready for its crunch home match this weekend.

At the end of an astonishing day of twists and turns, the club's administrator Harvey Madden has given the Quakers a three game stay of execution.

The deal gives the club an incredibly narrow window of opportunity to find a buyer and secure its long-term future as a community-led organisation. Members of the rescue group set up to find a white knight for the club last night urged the whole town and football fans across the region to get behind the Quakers this weekend.

But, with only a handful of first team players still prepared to pull on the black-and-white shirt, the race is now on to build a team capable of giving high- flying Fleetwood Town a game.

The region's biggest clubs, Newcastle and Sunderland,may be approached to see if they can help out.

And caretaker manager Craig Liddle has already said that he is prepared to come out of retirement to aid the club in its time of need.

Former Sunderland manager Peter Reid also tweeted his best wishes for the club's future.

Despite initial optimism the club could be saved, Mr Madden had already told caretaker manager Craig Liddle and players that the club would be liquidated when he received a phonecall offering around £50,000 to keep it running until a buyer could be found.

The phone call was made by members of the Darlington Football Club Rescue Group, who had put together their own money with £10,000 from Darlington Supporters’ Trust and around £7,000 from the supporters’ club.

Craig Liddle admitted it had been a “rollercoaster day”.

He said: “We’ve got the outcome that everyone wanted, although weve still got a lot fo work to do on and off the pitch."

It initially appeared liquidation was inevitable because out-of-town investors interested in buying the club could not reach an agreement with former chairman Raj Singh over compensation for the money he had put in.

However, it is now understood talks between the two parties will resume later this week, with rescue group members confident a deal can be agreed.

The investors are hoping to turn redevelop the Neasham Road site into a mixed-use development comprising of houses and leisure facilities.

Motorists passing along Neasham Road beeped their horns in support of the club, while fans gathered outside the stadium waiting for news.

Although the mood began as downbeat, the fans clapped and cheered as rescue group members revealed that the club was still alive.

Tickets for Saturday’s game against Fleetwood Town will be available from the club or at The Northern Echo offices in Priestage, Darlington, at normal prices from Thursday. Only cash will be accepted. Although cash turnstiles will be in operation on the day, the club is urging as many people as possible to buy their tickets in advance.

In tomorrow's Northern Echo... Aaron Brown: "Why I had to leave"

Can Darlington follow Middlesbrough's blueprint and come back from the dead?

Craig Liddle on the hunt to bring in reinforcements

Peter Barron on a momentous day for Darlington Football Club

* RELIVE Darlington's rollercoaster in the blog below:

15.10: Fifty-two stewards have volunteered for Saturday's match versus Fleetwood Town at the arena. Groundsman Dave Eckles is volunteering to come to the ground tomorrow to prepare the pitch but more hands are going to be wanted. Volunteers should call Jason Lee at the club on 01325 387000.

15.05: Steve Weeks, a member of the Rescue Group, said immediately after the meeting: "The group have come with a sum of money that the administrator accepted to enable the club to continue until January 31 which gives the Rescue Group the chance to carry out due diligence with appropriate care required for the emergence of a community-based club. Fans have to realise this is just the beginning and we now need their support more than ever. If this town really wants a football club, now is the time to show how much they care."

14.46: Returning to the arena, administrator Harvey Madden said he had given the Rescue Group until 3pm to find the necessary funding so the club can continue until at least the end of January.

He said: "The 13th hour is upon us. I've had discussions with the Rescue Group subject to them putting certain financial information to me and some funding and I would hope we can continue until at least the end of January to give us time to sell the club to interested parties."

Mr Madden admitted that he and the Rescue Group are under pressure to find a solution. He said: "I started this as a dark haired guy and am now slightly off black. I've never known anything like it before. I'm just trying to do the best I can for Darlington Football Club."

14.30: Darlington FC clings on. The next three games are to go ahead.

In a dramatic twist in the last few moments the administrator has accepted a short term deal that will see the matches against Fleetwood, York and Hayes and Yeading going ahead.

Rescures hope the move will buy them enough time to convince former chairman Raj Singh to do a deal that will save the club.

Editor Peter Barron tweeted from inside Darlington Rescue Group's meeting with the administrator.

13.08: Craig Liddle: "It looked like it was dead in the water but Harvey (Madden) has taken a call as he was leaving the building and it has thrown us a lifeline.

"I was confused and worried for the players but we have been thrown a lifeline and we will see what happens."

Liddle also said he was willing to play on Saturday if neccessary.

13:03: Administrator Harvey Madden has now left the arena on his way to secret talks. He said: "The only thing I can say is there has been a 13th hour possibility that this club can be saved. "I hope that it is very serious, I am still open to listening."

12.57: Former chairman Raj Singh has told Darlington MP Jenny Chapman that he will walk away without a penny as long as he gets a share in any future profits from the land.

12.31: Player James Gray has tweeted 'the club has gone'.