THE high-profile trial of former Darlington Football Club chairman George Reynolds, charged with money-laundering offences, could last months and call upon 20 to 30 witnesses, according to his legal team.

His solicitors also look set to appeal for the case, and that against his cousin and his personal assistant, to be heard away from the North-East.

Mr Reynolds, 68, of Monument Court, Durham City, made his second appearance at Teesside Crown Court yesterday, where he pleaded not-guilty to six charges, including conspiracy to launder money, money laundering and evasion of liability.

His cousin Richard Tennick, 58, of Bowling Green Lane, Manfield, North Yorkshire, and Ian Robinson, 43, of Fulton Court, Shildon, County Durham, each pleaded not guilty to two charges of conspiracy to launder money.

Mr Reynolds' defence barrister, Jamie Hill, said: "There will be an application to transfer the case from Teesside. We have discussed it with our clients and they have some reservations.

"There has been considerable publicity and there have been TV programmes on this case in the North-East. There may be an application to move the case further south."

Judge Peter Fox QC, the Recorder of Middlesbrough, said the defence team would need to present a large body of evidence if they wanted to move the trial away from Teesside. He said he hoped it would start in September.

Mr Reynolds was chairman of the Quakers for almost five years. The club went into administration with crippling debts shortly before Christmas 2003, and Mr Reynolds stepped down as chairman in January last year.

The hearing was adjourned until Friday, March 4 and the three men were granted unconditional bail. The defence team was given until Thursday next week to apply to change the trial venue.