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Wildes pulls out of Quakers deal - but other options being explored

12:09pm Wednesday 1st February 2012 in Darlington FC News Photograph of the Author By Chris Lloyd, Deputy Editor

Paul Wildes Paul Wildes

PAUL Wildes has pulled out of the deal to save the Quakers - but administrator Harvey Madden continues to explore other options.

Mr Wildes has been unable to reach a settlement with out-going chairman Raj Singh.

Without that settlement, the only other option for Mr Wildes was to take the club out of administration without paying off all the creditors which would have meant relegation at least one division.

This would have reduced revenue for the football club and added uncertainty to Mr Wildes business plan.

Mr Singh is believed to be looking for a percentage of any future developments on the stadium site.

Talking to BBC Tees, Mr Wildes said: “I think it’s fair to say we (Mr Singh and I) weren’t on the same page as far as those proposals were concerned.

“I tried to explore other options and I found that these options weren’t viable either.

“When you’re trying to put a business plan together you need to have as much certainty as possible around the numbers.”

However, the businessman added that he believed Mr Singh was willing to do a deal with supporters.

He said: “If this is a possibility I’m more than happy to help the supporters.”

Asked if this meant he would invest money, Mr Wildes said he would consider any proposal that fans put to him and would pass on any information he had gathered on the club in recent days.

“I have been tremendously impressed by the people of Darlington and members of the rescue group,” he said.

“In the short space of time I have drawn some affection to the club.”

Mr Wildes said he believed administrator Harvey Madden needed to have a concrete plan for the future within the next 24 to 48 hours if the club was to survive.

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He added: "I am absolutely gutted. It is one of the worst days I have had in business.

Minutes after Mr Wildes announced he had withdrawn his bid, administrator Harvey Madden announced that he was exploring alternatives.

He said he was holding further meetings on Wednesday to "explore other options as a matter of urgency".

A statement issued by Mr Madden's company, Taylor Rowlands, said: "Two further parties have shown interest and if the club is to survive he (Mr Madden) quickly needs to find a willing purchaser."

Mr Madden said he would release a further statement when any progress was made.

Comments(21)

stevehutch says...
12:39pm Wed 1 Feb 12

Why should Raj get a percentage of any development? He has stated time and time again that the profits from any development on the site would go to the football club and not to him. Is he just scared that somebody will come in and make a success out of the club because of his failure?

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doonhamer says...
12:39pm Wed 1 Feb 12

Mr Wildes your offer to help the supporters "in any way I can" to quote from your press statement, could be best served by crawling back into the hole from whence you came. If you had been genuine you would already be involved in football with Sheffield Wednesday, you allegedly support them and they are in need of financial assistance. No, you have just raised then dashed the hopes of the loyal Darlo fans and only the cynical like myself, who are older and wiser to know better, are not surprised at your decision. Darlo 2012, when it is formed by the fans, will be a fledgling club for a long time at a lower grade of football (which by your own admission you could not make any money from) but it will be solvent, have pride and be ran by individuals who have a pride and passion in THEIR town and team. Keep the faith, Tin Shedders.

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swissball says...
12:40pm Wed 1 Feb 12

Wildes pulls out - well there's a surprise ;-)

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MST75 says...
12:49pm Wed 1 Feb 12

Not a surprise at all. Houses in 2 years is my guess.

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holmesc1 says...
12:56pm Wed 1 Feb 12

This sound harsh but its for the best. If my wildes bought the club with the white elephant stadium 3 year later they would have been in the same bother. The club can re-form in a lower league even if ts eveo stick division 1 north just like chester and groundshare and eventually get a more sensible sized ground. A clean break. For god sake if the past 3 chariman have failed at the arena whos going to change anything especially with the council. About time the administrator liquadated the club and they can make firm plans to start again instead of just been strung along

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MrMorden says...
1:04pm Wed 1 Feb 12

Something didn't add up really. This guy comes in and talks in terms of hundred thousands when the alleged debt is 1.7m. Just another Michael Knighton. A bit of PR for him.

I agree houses 2 years, sorry luxury apartments or TESCO.

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elvispresleysking says...
1:24pm Wed 1 Feb 12

Mr Madden said in a statement: "Talks regarding the football club are at an advanced stage with a potential purchaser.
"However, no suitable bid has yet been agreed, but discussions are ongoing.
"For the avoidance of doubt I am currently only talking to one interested party as no other potential purchaser has entered into negotiations."


That was Mr Madden's statement yesterday! However today after talks have broken down he has now found, miracuously, as they didn't exist yesterday, 2 further parties that have shown interest?

Which is it Mr Madden or are you just stringing the fans along as well......

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darlo8777 says...
1:29pm Wed 1 Feb 12

In my opinion mr madden seems a genuine guy and this deal could of saved our club!! Any fans that think going bust and start again are deluded it's not that easy. I am a season ticket holder and would be wounded if we went under just so Singh got a cut, grow up and do one we have nothing to give u!!! DFC since 1883, keep the faith!!!!

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superstretch says...
3:21pm Wed 1 Feb 12

You can rely on the Echo comments pieces to be ill informed at the best of times, but on this topic they really take the biscuit.

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MST75 says...
4:27pm Wed 1 Feb 12

superstretch wrote:
You can rely on the Echo comments pieces to be ill informed at the best of times, but on this topic they really take the biscuit.
Enlighten us all then.

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MST75 says...
4:28pm Wed 1 Feb 12

superstretch wrote:
You can rely on the Echo comments pieces to be ill informed at the best of times, but on this topic they really take the biscuit.
Enlighten us all then.

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swissball says...
4:36pm Wed 1 Feb 12

MST75 wrote:
superstretch wrote:
You can rely on the Echo comments pieces to be ill informed at the best of times, but on this topic they really take the biscuit.
Enlighten us all then.
Yes, please explain?

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Jamesbw says...
4:54pm Wed 1 Feb 12

I can't see any way that Darlington could have a sustainable future at the current stadium and I would have been very sorry to see the Wilde's proposal succeed as I feel it would only have led to administration again sooner or later.
The only way forward is a community club on a smaller scale, on a sensibly sized ground, with lower overheads. If the club has to drop down a division or two it's not the end of the world. Clubs like AFC Wimbledon and Aldershot have shown that you can build a successful club if you start from a sound foundation.

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Jolly Roger says...
5:24pm Wed 1 Feb 12

Well Darlington Council hold the shots reguarding what happens to the ground.

As if I was them, it would be turned back to grass because it is outside the town because as far as I am concerned the railway bridge is the boundary for houses on Neasham Road.

And the Council would not let the Cattle Mart build near there so they have set it out no building around the Stadium area.

But as for the ex chairman he said that the club would have no debts, but wants any money from the land, why he does not own the said land or stadium does he? or am I missing something.

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rudge1 says...
5:38pm Wed 1 Feb 12

Save your time and breath lads.i have it on good authority from within the club that singh is only interested in closing down the club and all this business about getting a buyer to take over is a complete load of ****.Lets hope the council dont give these burglars permission to do anything else on the land apart from play football.

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rudge1 says...
5:42pm Wed 1 Feb 12

Save your time and breath lads.i have it on good authority from within the club that singh is only interested in closing down the club and all this business about getting a buyer to take over is a complete load of ****.Lets hope the council dont give these burglars permission to do anything else on the land apart from play football.

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stiv says...
5:56pm Wed 1 Feb 12

If the club goes under it can start elsewhere. what would serve singh and the rest of his associates right is if they get no building rights and no land sold. then when the stadium becomes unsafe they have to pay to get it pulled down.

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rudge1 says...
6:06pm Wed 1 Feb 12

agree stiv.let singh and his mates buy a flock of sheep or a few cows to go on the land.that would be poetic justice.but like i said before,hope i dont end up in his care home.Hope the council have the guts to stick by the restrictions they imposed but seeing as they are semi polititions,they probably wont

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mensamoo says...
11:31pm Wed 1 Feb 12

I wish people wouldn't blame Paul Wildes or Raj Singh. common sense dictates that Raj put a shed load of money into the club and wasn't allowed to use the site for profit. If a new investor is, then its very unfair. Mr Wildes had a genuine proposition that fell at this point. I admire fans being loyal but please put a business brain on. These people want to help Darlo but can't trust to blind punts. We all love DFC but NONE of us would throw money away. Try pointing your anger at the council and those who put the barriers up in the first place.

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mensamoo says...
11:32pm Wed 1 Feb 12

I wish people wouldn't blame Paul Wildes or Raj Singh. common sense dictates that Raj put a shed load of money into the club and wasn't allowed to use the site for profit. If a new investor is, then its very unfair. Mr Wildes had a genuine proposition that fell at this point. I admire fans being loyal but please put a business brain on. These people want to help Darlo but can't trust to blind punts. We all love DFC but NONE of us would throw money away. Try pointing your anger at the council and those who put the barriers up in the first place.

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rudge1 says...
1:09pm Thu 2 Feb 12

come on mensammoo the council put the restrictions on the land because they knew like everybody else should know that the likes of gr,haughton singh etc would sell once established and take the profit.no monies would have been put into the football club.if singh is genuine how come he still wants a share of something he has alledgedly passed over to scott and sizer.wish everone would wake up and smell the coffee.

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