WITH little other than pride to play for, takeover talk dominated the day as Darlington signed off for the season at Blackwell Meadows with a bittersweet 1-0 win over AFC Telford United.

At the same venue less than 24 hours earlier manager Martin Gray had issued an ultimatum: Allow investors to take a controlling share of the club or he and much of the squad will most likely leave.

Financial constraints, says Gray, will leave Quakers unable to compete at the top end of the division unless investors get the go ahead from the Supporters Group, who currently 51 per cent of shares, to buy into the club.

The scenario is a tough one for fans. Previous experience leads some to suggest such a move would be short-sighted – would it be lying down with the devil? Yet, while they have enjoyed five fantastic seasons as a fan-owned club, winning three promotions, many believe that the model has reached its ceiling.

Quakers could have made it four promotions in five seasons had their ground not precluded them from participating in the play-offs.

A top-five finish is now likely, a point needed this weekend at Salford City to be sure, though Gray will want three to continue Quakers’ good form.

They have won four matches in a row for the first time since August, the team commendably maintaining their dedication despite being badly let down by the club’s hierarchy.

The fans have been let down too, yet 1,800 turned up on Saturday, the second highest attendance since January.

“We’ve won our last four games and it was important to sign off with a win at home, so I’m delighted for our fans and the players,” said Gray.

“It was a magnificent turnout and we’ve had great support home and away all season.

“They didn’t have to come today, so we can’t thank them enough for standing by us. So to win the last home game with a clean sheet was very important.”

In contrast to Easter Monday’s strong performance in defeating FC United 4-2, Saturday was flat for the most part, a bit of a grind, Telford tough to breakdown despite their lowly position.

They have conceded the fewest goals in the bottom half of the division, fewer than Darlington too, and it showed.

Dave Syers had Darlington’s best chance of a drab first-half, the midfielder heading over after timing a run well to get on the end of a terrific Josh Gillies cross.

Veteran striker Lee Hughes was clearly Telford’s pivot, all their attacks aiming for the 40-year-old, who became the first opposition player to play at the Arena, Heritage Park and Blackwell Meadows.

He had a few sniffs of goal, but nothing to trouble Adam Bartlett, who would become more involved late on by which time Darlington were 1-0 up.

The goal was a penalty in the 53rd minute, awarded when David Ferguson was fouled by right-back Dwayne Samuels.

A good bit of football involving Gillies and Nathan Cartman crafted the opportunity for gallivanting Ferguson to break into the area, and Mark Beck made no mistake from the spot to reach 17 goals for the season.

It was his second spot-kick this season, on penalty duty as Terry Galbraith was not involved due to a calf strain.

Beck said: “I’m confident taking them. I grabbed the ball last week, but Martin shouted for Tez to take it as he’s the penalty taker, but he was not playing so I took my chance this time.”

Beck wasted a good chance for 2-0, dragging a shot wide when played in by Leon Scott, and there could easily have been a second penalty when speed demon Harvey Saunders raced into the area before being upended by Samuels, but referee Simon Lucas took pity on the defender and played on.

“Harvey showed great pace and I don’t know how the ref didn’t give it because it was more a penalty than the first one was,” said Gray. “He was not brave enough to give it.”

Telford rallied and so Bartlett was called into action to preserve Quakers’ lead by saving from Danny Reynolds and Ben Bailey and in doing so he helped record Quakers’ seventh clean sheet, three of them coming in his seven appearances.

Bartlett was rescued from Hartlepool United in mid-March when the play-offs were still possible, halcyon days.

Although they are now out of the question as the appeal has zero chance of succeeding, Gray is rightly proud of his players for maintaining their professional approach.

“They’ve picked up four wins out of four since we heard the news, so you’ve got to give them massive credit,” he said.

“They have been magnificent and I can’t praise them highly enough. Their willingness to continue and keep doing things right has been great.

“A lot of clubs, if they’d had thrown at them what we’ve had to deal with, then they would’ve laid down and the season would’ve been over.

“But we’ve gone out and won four games and that shows you great desire and determination from the players and management staff.

“It’s been tough. But we’re here and we’ve got to do the job that we’re paid to do.

“We want to maintain high standards and now we’ve got to get through the last game and then look at the direction of the football club.”