THE cracks have started to appear in George Reynolds' love affair with Darlington Football Club.

The chants from the terraces have changed from the euphoric days following his rescue mission to bring the club back from the brink.

Then it was "Georgie, Georgie, show us your scarf" and the chipboard millionaire would happily wave his colours. Now it is "Reynolds, Reynolds, show us your cash" and, on Saturday at least, the chairman decided he'd heard enough, leaving at half-time with his team heading for another defeat.

The test for Mr Reynolds was always going to be how he would react once the honeymoon was over - when the gratitude for saving the Quakers from bankruptcy had worn thin.

If the team looked anything like fulfilling his pledge that elevation to higher divisions would follow his takeover, it would still be "Georgie" and not "Reynolds".

But it doesn't. In the words of Luke Raine, Mr Reynolds' spokesman and newly-appointed Director of Football, the team is on the slide.

A great deal hangs on George Reynolds' association with Darlington Football Club - particularly the controversial new stadium due to be built on land being cleared by tractors on the edge of the town.

Mr Raine insists that his boss is not about to walk away from the Quakers. But what if the cracks continue to grow? Mr Reynolds is not used to dissent in the ranks.

It is not just the fans on the terraces. Senior, influential figures in the town are privately expressing grave concerns about what the future holds.

It is easy to build a new stadium but much harder to build a team capable of making sure it doesn't end up as a white elephant. Mr Reynolds has to win the fans over again by showing that there will be significant investment in players.

But at the same time, the fans - understandable though their frustration may be - should not forget that without George Reynolds, Darlington FC might not have had much of a future at all.

He paid off the debts when he was the only potential saviour and if his half-time walk-out on Saturday became permanent, the Quakers really would be in the mire.