DARLINGTON say a decision on Alan White’s future will be made by tomorrow night.

At the beginning of last month manager Martin Gray said he would not tolerate any further lapses in discipline from the player following a dismissal after a match against Marine.

It was his third red card of 2015, however he was then sent off in Saturday’s FA Trophy defeat at Sutton Coldfield Town.

He saw red after earning two bookings for fouls, the first not being for dissent as previously reported.

On the club’s official website, Gray said last night: “I’ve met with Alan White and we’re to meet again at the end of the week. Hopefully we’ll have something resolved inside the next 48 hours.”

Meanwhile, Darlington have commented publicly for the first time on the issue that could see them docked points after failing to gain international clearance for a player.

Winger Anthony Bell appeared in seven league fixtures during August and September, plus an FA Cup game, despite not acquiring international clearance.

He had previously been with Cardiff City, so Quakers required clearance before he was eligible to be selected. However, an administrative oversight meant they failed to do so and now face the threat of a points deduction.

Club director Dave Mills, speaking on the club’s website, said: “DFC fully accept that a player participated in several fixtures when he was not eligible to do so.

“It should be made clear that Darlington sought to gain no competitive advantage, either financial or footballing, from signing and playing the player.

“This situation has arisen due to the anomalous nature of a ‘foreign’ club playing in the English league system, and is merely an administrative error on the part of the club failing to recognise or realise that an ITC should be sought.

“The club will carefully consider any punishment given to it and then decide if any further action is appropriate.”

It is understood that the maximum they could be deducted for the offence is 12 points, however Darlington are optimistic that the Evo-Stik Northern Premier League will be lenient and use the discretion they are permitted to do so when dealing with such infringements.

Quakers are waiting to hear when the league management committee will meet to discuss the case.

Bell played a game for Doncaster Rovers’ reserves side before joining Darlington, but he made little impact. Substituted in three of his five starts, the winger came off the bench on three other occasions before being released in September and joining Shildon.

Shildon were ordered by the Ebac Northern League to replay the one match Bell played for them – a win at Ashington – before they had gained international clearance.