IF Darlington finish the season inside the top five they would deserve to contest the play-offs on merit, believes midfielder Phil Turnbull.

Quakers are fourth and need only a point from their final match of the season next Saturday at Salford City to be assured of a top-five place.

But they are unlikely to be allowed to participate in the end-of-season showdown due to not having 500 covered seats at Blackwell Meadows by the National League’s deadline of March 31.

The prospect of ground grading criteria scuppering promotion hopes rather than their fate being determined on a sporting level frustrates Turnbull, who has been Quakers’ captain in recent weeks while Kevin Burgess is absent through injury.

“In my opinion, you’ve got to look beyond the seats,” said Turnbull, speaking to the club’s official website after Darlington’s 1-0 win over AFC Telford on Saturday.

“It’s harsh if they don’t let us in regarding seats, it’s got to be the teams that finish, second, third, fourth and fifth.

“If I was in the team that got into the play-offs at Darlington’s expense it just would not feel right.

“So I think we should be allowed to play in the play-offs, and then the club given a specific amount of time to sort it out for next season.”

Darlington have been in the top five almost all season, dropping to seventh at the beginning of February for a few weeks following some indifferent form, but a string of good results has seen Quakers leap above play-off rivals Salford, Chorley and Stockport.

“If we get into the play-offs the lads, as a team, can say we’ve done our job for the season,” added Turnbull, the former Gateshead midfielder.

“The objective was to get promotion, whether that was winning the league or going into the play-offs and the gaffer said that prior to the season starting.

“If we finish in the top five we can say we’ve done our job and be proud of ourselves, but it’s bittersweet.”