THE former home of Darlington Football Club is to be demolished, it was announced last night, sparking fresh controversy about its future use.

Bulldozers are expected to roll on to the Feethams site before Easter, bringing an end to its 140-year heritage.

The club played at Feethams until 2003, when it moved to its Neasham Road stadium.

Darlington Borough Council said it had no choice but to serve the demolition notice in the coming days after several site inspections showed the stadium to be unsafe.

Speculation has mounted in recent months about what will happen to the site and yesterday's announcement is certain to lead to renewed debate and a possible legal battle over what happens next.

Feethams was built in 1866. It was bought by Edmund Backhouse and Sir ED Walker, president of Darlington Cricket Club, in 1903, and placed in the ownership of a private perpetual trust.

The trust's deed of foundation dictates that it must be used for cricket or any other sport authorised by the cricket club, but a caveat allows part of the ground to be sold.

The land does not have residential permission, but a Darlington Borough Council spokesman said there was nothing to stop an application being submitted.

If it was sold for executive housing it could be worth millions, but Darlington Cricket Field Trust, which owns the site, said the land had not yet been bought or earmarked, and no decisions had been made.

Darlington Football Club Supporters Trust branded yesterday's announcement as "a very sad day for the town", and vowed to fight to ensure the site continued to be used for sport.

Feethams has fallen into a growing state of disrepair since it became disused, and has been the target of several recent arson attacks.

The Cricket Field Trust was informed of the council's intention in writing before Christmas, and told that all buildings on the site must be demolished at an estimated cost of £200,000.

John Buxton, the borough council's director of development and environment, said yesterday: "The site has not been used for three years and the buildings are in a dangerous condition.

"The order will be made to ensure this site, near the town centre, is safe.

"Darlington has a new multi-million pound stadium, which is the home of Darlington Football Club and we want to ensure that there is maximum use of this state-of-the-art facility."

Darlington FC manager Mr Hodgson said Feethams held wonderful memories for him, players, staff and fans.

"While these memories will live on, we look to the future and our hopes for Darlington FC in our new home," he said.

But Tony Turner, chairman of Darlington FC supporters' trust, said he was very disappointed with the announcement, and that there should have been extensive public consultation over any decision to demolish part of the town's history.

He said: "There are a small number of sports facilities left in this town, and this site is supposed to have been left to the people of Darlington for sporting purposes. It seems to me that is what should happen.

"I would also be interested to know what the level of consultation has been before such a decision has been made."

A borough council spokeswoman said: "This is not a matter for public consultation, it is a matter of public safety. Our responsibility is to ensure that safety."

Brian Johnson, chairman of Darlington Cricket Field Trust, said he would not comment further until he received the council's demolition notice.

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