IF there were any doubts about chairman George Reynolds' commitment to Darlington Football Club then a tour around the club's new stadium should set the record straight.

While results on the pitch may not have gone as all the fans would have hoped, the progress the club is making off the pitch is the stuff other clubs in the Third Division can only dream about.

Some fans have questioned the logic behind moving to a 25,000 all-seater stadium, when gates at Feethams are falling short of 3,000 and the club is struggling in the lower reaches of the Third Division.

However, Mr Reynolds has never been one to doubt his belief and he remains certain of bringing success to the club he regarded as a sleeping giant when he paid its crippling debts in 1999.

Relieving the club of its stifling financial situation - reputed to have been in the region of £3.8m at the time - was his first promise and was delivered within days of him taking control of the club.

With the second promise, a new stadium, on the Neasham Road horizon, Mr Reynolds believes the foundations are now in place to begin the next phase of the Quakers' journey under a man who made his fortune from a kitchen worktops business.

"I made three promises when I took over the club," said Mr Reynolds.

"The first was to clear its debts, which I did, and the second was to build a brand new stadium, which is what we're doing."

The third promise, which was to reach the Premiership in five years, appears to have been put on hold for the time being, although Mr Reynolds insists it is not beyond the realms of possibility.

"If we are to take the club forward then we need to have the supporters to take us there and that's why we've built such a fantastic stadium," he said.

Even the most optimistic of people would agree that a club struggling in the Third Division may struggle to attract anywhere near the stadium's capacity, and some argue it would have been better to first build a stronger team.

However, the club hopes that a "buy one get one free" deal at Feethams for the remainder of this season - which entitles fans to the same offer at the new stadium next season - will attract more people to fill those seats.

While an exceptional gate is almost guaranteed for the first game at the stadium sometime during the summer - with a top club likely to provide the opposition for the opening ceremony - getting fans to come back for more is part of the challenge Mr Reynolds is facing and about which he has such confidence.

With a vast array of facilities, including bars and picnic areas, the club hopes to make a day out at the new stadium more than just a visit to a football match.

"It's going to be great for families to come along and just enjoy their day," said Mr Reynolds.

"There's going to be all sorts for them to do."

With work on the outside almost complete but for one or two minor details, the club is now concentrating on an interior that promises to be just as impressive.

On entering the main stand by the main entrance (south), it is clear that every detail has been taken into consideration - from the carefully crafted glass panels featuring the club crest to the solid oak and marble fittings around the main reception desk.

A trip up to the first floor through one of two escalators situated either side of the reception area takes you to facilities that include one of the two main suites, or to one of the 30 immaculate executive boxes that have already been decked out in preparation for match day.

Full use has also been made of each corner of the stadium.

Anti-clockwise from the main stand to the first corner is the club shop, which will also house a ticket office that can be accessed from both inside and outside the ground.

The next corner will house the supporters' club with an oval-shaped bar, decked out in black ash and stainless steel fittings.

At the opposite end of a lengthy concourse in the north stand is a cocktail bar, which is expected to be used as a seven-day facility.

In accordance with an agreement made with Darlington Borough Council, the south-east corner of the stadium will feature a study support centre that will be used on a daily basis by schools in the area.

Lifts inside the ground include a specially designed route in the east stand for supporters to gain easy access to the terraces.

With about three quarters of the 25,000 seats already in place, the club hopes to have the remainder fitted in the next month.

The stadium dream is almost a reality. Filling it is the next step in the challenge that Mr Reynolds will be tackling.

Everything is going to plan, says council

DARLINGTON Borough Council said work on the stadium was progressing well, with all planning conditions being followed.

Permission for the 25,000-seater stadium was granted subject to 22 conditions.

These included restrictions on what time of day building work could take place and a guarantee that the finished stadium would only be used for football matches.

Although there have been complaints from nearby residents about the building work, a council spokesman insisted there had been no problems.

He said: "Everything has gone to plan. A large stadium has been built in line with the conditions imposed on the building work."

The spokesman confirmed that the council expected the stadium to be ready for the start of next season.