Arnison praises the fundraising effort (From The Northern Echo)

Arnison praises the fundraising effort

8:00am Thursday 2nd February 2012 in Darlington FC News By Craig Stoddart, Deputy Sports Editor

Darlington defender Paul Arnison says the fundraising efforts in recent weeks to keep Quakers alive has impressed the players, who have received the message that the town wants the club to survive.

A third spell of administration inside ten years tested the resolve of a town and the club's supporters.

But the desire to save the Qukaers has been evident with big attendances at the last two home games an indication of the desire for the club while thousands of pounds has been raised, some of it going towards the players whose regular wages stopped before Christmas.

The first team squad received a payment last month thanks to donations collected by the Darlo Uncovered website, and Arnison admits that the players appreciate the efforts.

The defender said: "It's been fantastic to see the reaction that the club has had during all of this and for the fans to give us some money and the things they are doing is appreciated.

"The fans have rallied around. There's been auctions and donations and I saw on Twitter that kids were going into school last week wearing black and white to raise money.

"It's fantastic what everybody is doing to keep the club.

"What's been shown to the players is that the passion for the club is there in the town and hopefully, if we come out of administration, the number of fans who have come to support us recently will come back again."

Arnison played in last Saturday's 2-2 draw with York City when over 6,000 were inside The Northern Echo Arena, and he admits the players felt boosted by the atmosphere a larger crowd helped provide.

It was a similar scenario seven days earlier against Fleetwood Town, when 5,638 were in attendance and Arnison said: "It makes a difference walking out in front of 6,000 fans instead of 1,500-2000 like it has been sometimes. It spurs the lads on.

"When I was at Carlisle there used to be 6-7,000 for every home game and for big games it was 12-13,000. It raises your game.

"You shouldn't need that to help you but it does help when the support is as fantastic as it has been at the last two games."

Arnison suffered a calf strain against York, bringing to a premature end a match in which he began as captain in the absence of Graeme Lee who has a knee injury.

It was not the first time he has suffered bad luck when handed the skipper's role, but it is a role he was grateful to be handed.

He explained: "Last time I was captain it was when Colin Todd was here. We played Lincoln at home and I went off with a calf problem, so maybe I shouldn't be taking that armband.

"But it's great to be captain with Spike struggling at the minute.

"I was captain in Newcastle reserves for about five seasons. To be captain you've got have someone who is going to talk and be a leader out there to help out lads as much as they can help us."

Arnison's place at Mansfield Town on Saturday is likely to go to teenager Liam Bagnall who Sunderland have agreed to send on loan to the Arena.