IF the question was ‘who is the last person you would expect to walk back into Darlington Football Club?’, the name Raj Singh would be most supporters’ answer.

If nothing else, he has got balls. Some would say a brass neck too, to darken Darlington’s door again after what went on before.

He ranks alongside the most controversial officials the club has had in living memory, though there is no shortage of competition.

Reg Brearley, Steve Morgan, Mike Peden, George Reynolds and George Houghton are regarded with varying degrees of animosity for their respective roles in damaging Darlington, all belonging to a Quakers hall of shame with Singh the most recent entrant.

While some will want to listen to his side of the story, intrigued at the Middlesbrough executive box holder’s renewed interest in Darlington, others will be dismayed at his possible return.

The fans have enjoyed five fantastic seasons, a period of growth during which Quakers have flown through non-league with three promotions, the first being from Division One of the Northern League - a division Darlington were in because, effectively, Singh put them there.

It was under him that the club went into administration in 2011-12, and by the end of the season Quakers were unable to agree a CVA as Singh, the largest creditor, refused any offer made.

Thus, the Football Association demoted them from what is now known as the National League four divisions to the Northern League.

Suddenly, Darlington were sharing a level playing field with Consett, Newton Aycliffe and Hebburn et al. All good local clubs, but it made for a shock to the system.

Crucially, Singh did not hand over the football share in the name of Darlington FC to the new owners.

Without it, the Football Association decreed that Quakers were a new entity, ignoring the fact that the ‘new’ club had taken on the debts and the assets of the ‘old’ club.

Fast forward five years and the club are in the National League North after three promotions – but they are unlikely to progress much further under the fan-owned model, believes Martin Gray.

Plenty agree, which is why some fans want Singh and his money on board.

Gray certainly does, so he clearly trusts him.

Even in the second level of non-league football there are clubs awash with cash.

The top two teams in National League North – AFC Fylde and Kidderminster – this season are full-time, as will Salford City, Harrogate Town and York be next season, while Spennymoor Town can compete due to owner Brad Groves’ munificence.

There are those who point out that welcoming a private investor could jeopardise semi-pro Darlington’s future. Again. Would it be lying down with the devil?

That is one for Singh to answer, with the first question being: why? What do you want from this club?

Perhaps he feels guilty about what happened and wants an opportunity to put it right? It could be that Darlington is merely an investment for him, a business opportunity.

Or maybe he’s looking for a new football fix after being bored to tears by Boro’s abject season.

Whatever his motives, and The Northern Echo shall endeavour to ascertain them, one hopes his involvement would not break the bond that many supporters have forged with the club during five fantastic fan-owned seasons.