Phoenix club last resort, say Quakers fans (From The Northern Echo)

Phoenix club last resort, say Quakers fans

8:00am Wednesday 8th February 2012 in Darlington FC News By Joe Willis, Regional chief reporter

A FANS’ group has dismissed suggestions it wants to launch a phoenix club from the ashes of Darlington Football Club.

Darlington Supporters Trust said it would prefer the community to take over the existing club, rather than the Quakers be liquidated and a new club formed.

Plans to launch a community group to run the club were announced last week by Darlington Football Club Rescue Group.

The group was due to hold further talks yesterday.

The supporters trust is involved in the talks and has entered into a non-disclosure agreement with administrator Harvey Madden.

It said in a statement: “We hope that fans will understand that this is a necessary part of negotiations.

“We are drawing on our expertise and experiences from Supporters Direct and you can be assured that we are absolutely committed to the idea of a community club – this is what we are about and have always been about.”

The trust said it was aware some people believed it was in favour of a phoenix club.

It added: “Let us make the case here and now that this is not the option that we are hoping for, nor has it ever been high on our list of priorities.

“A phoenix club is absolutely the very last resort and we are working – together with the other fans groups that are all coming together under one banner – to keeping the football club alive and developing it as the community club.”

The Quakers play Wrexham at home on Saturday. Despite the recent freezing conditions and snow, the club’s general manager, Jason Lees, is hopeful the game will take place.

He said: “We’ve looked at about ten different forecasts and we’ve even spoken to the Met Office. Some say there is a very good chance and others say there is no chance.

“We will leave the snow that’s on until Thursday to protect it from the frost.

“We will then clear as much as can ready for a pitch inspection on Friday.”

Regarding the future of the club, Mr Lees said: “I spoke to Harvey [the administrator].

There’s nothing he can tell me at the moment. Everything has gone quiet and we don’t know what’s going on, but we’re still hopeful.”

􀁧 Darlington Football Club is looking for volunteers to help clear the pitch of snow. Anyone willing to help should turn up at the stadium at 9am tomorrow.