DARLINGTON Football Club was last night clinging to a lifeline, despite the remaining team players and staff having their contracts terminated hours earlier.

A “rollercoaster” day of discussions, which included the possibility of the club returning to Feethams, ended without a rescue deal being agreed to prevent the club from being liquidated.

However, administrator Harvey Madden agreed to delay pulling the plug until he had held further talks with potential investors – including a last-minute investor who came forward yesterday.

Discussions will begin this morning with potential outof- town investors and further talks are planned for tomorrow with as yet unknown individuals.

Despite opening the door for a possible rescue deal, Mr Madden warned that unless an agreement is reached soon, it would soon be all over for the 129-year-old club.

Caretaker manager Craig Liddle and his remaining players, together with backroom staff, were told yesterday that their contracts had been terminated. However, Quakers stalwart Liddle said last night that he plans to hold a youth team training session this morning regardless of his situation.

If the club escapes liquidation, it is understood the administrator would seek to reappoint the sacked players ahead of Saturday’s match against Fleetwood Town.

Sources last night questioned whether this was legal and within FA rules.

However, The Northern Echo understands Mr Madden took advice from league officials before taking the step and is confident it stands up to scrutiny.

Talks between potential investors took place yesterday at the Blackwell Grange Hotel, in Darlington.

Three parties, including Darlington Football Club Rescue Group (DFCRG) and two groups of investors, met to discuss a plan to create an eco-friendly residential development on the Neasham Road site and the stadium.

It is proposed that 20 acres of land could be filled with 15 homes per acre.

The developers indicated that they may then be prepared to pay the running costs of the club for the next few months in the hope that a long-term solution can be finalised.

Yesterday’s meeting was attended by local businessmen, two out-of-town businessmen who are interested in investing in the scheme, the town’s MP Jenny Chapman, and the editor of The Northern Echo, Peter Barron.

The scheme is dependent on the backing of the council and “encouraging” discussions later took place with officials at the authority to assess its validity.

Mark Meynell, from DFCRG, said: “The administrator has left the door open.

“The discussions have been a rollercoaster ride. We were expecting a decision one way or another by 5pm on Monday, but the fact the door has been left slightly open means there is definitely still a chance.

“We don’t want to overstate it, but it is a chance. We have done all we can for now.”

Mrs Chapman said all parties were working “incredibly hard” to keep the club alive.

She added: “If we are not successful it will not be for the lack of imagination or effort – we won the FA Trophy in extra-time and maybe we can still win this battle in extratime.”

Darlington Council confirmed it had held talks with potential investors.

It said in a statement: “Discussions centred around releasing the value from the land to replace the current stadium and fund the building of a smaller ground that would be more economical to run.

This would free up an area of land for alternative development.”

According to the council, all parties agreed that there were options worth working on.

However, it added: “Any development would take many months before it was completed and provided funding for a new ground.

“If it is a viable option, it would only be realised in the longer term and is unlikely to provide immediate funds to solve the problems facing the football club at the moment.”

Yarm-based Mr Madden said in a statement that given the current financial position of the club, and because of his legal obligations, he had no choice but to terminate the contracts of all playing staff and the retained administration staff. However, he added: “There remain parties interested in either injecting funds into the club to enable it to continue operating or acquiring the club.

“Every effort is being made to progress this to try to save the club.

“However, at this stage I have still not received any formal offers and unless a deal is concluded as a matter of urgency, time will have run out for Darlington Football Club.”

It is understood he would have become liable for paying wages if the players and staff had been kept on beyond midnight last night.

Asked about the legality of terminating players’ contracts and then re-employing them on a match-by-match basis, a spokesman for the Blue Square Bet Premier said it had not been contacted by the administrator or the club secretary.

“Until then we will wait for a report from either of those to see what position the club is in. We are not in a position to make any official statement yet. We will see what tomorrow brings,” the spokesman said.

The FA declined to comment last night, although a clarification of the situation regarding contracts is expected today.

Quakers are clinging to lifeline

10.15am yesterday: Interested parties, including members of the Darlington Football Club Rescue Group, unidentified out-of-town investors, MP Jenny Chapman, local businessmen, and The Northern Echo editor Peter Barron meet to discuss 11-hour plan to save Darlington Football Club.

11am: Proposal, put forward by local businessmen, for eco-friendly housing development on the site around The Northern Echo Darlington Arena, discussed with Darlington Borough Council officials.

Noon: After potential investor drives down A1 to meet business partner to discuss the opportunity, he confirms they wish to hold talks with the administrator about going ahead with the possibility of covering the club’s running costs until the end of March.

1.30pm: After training, manager Craig Liddle and first team players of the Darlington FC squad called to a meeting with the administrator. They all receive letters informing them that their contracts are being terminated.

5pm: Administrator Harvey Madden issues statement, confirming that players’ contracts have been terminated but leaves the door open for further talks on the development plans and the possible re-appointment of the players.

6pm: League officials say they are weighing up whether the players could be reappointed to play in Saturday’s scheduled home fixture against Fleetwood.