THE company that owned Darlington Football Club before it was taken over by the Sterling Consortium is being wound up.

The Darlington Football Club Limited, which operated during the time George Reynolds was chairman, is in the hands of the official receiver.

The club went into administration in December 2003 and a winding-up order was made against the firm exactly a year later, as a matter of procedure.

Dave Field, of Wilson Field, who has overseen the administration process, said: "Administration only lasts a year. You can either apply for the administration to continue or put the company into liquidation.

"It does not affect the new club. It is really to tie up any loose ends that the administrators may not have had time to do."

The official receiver will oversee the first meeting of creditors on April 8, at 2pm, at his office in Thornaby, near Stockton, where a vote will be taken on who to appoint as a liquidator.

The first meeting of contributories will be held after the creditors' meeting.

The order does not affect the current owners of the football club, Darlington FC Limited, headed by Darlington chairman Stewart Davies.