CASH-STRAPPED Darlington Football Club is likely to get the go-ahead for concerts at its 25,000-seater stadium - but only after agreeing to restrictions that will limit audiences to only 4,500 people.

The club says it needs to host concerts and other sports events at the 96.6 TFM Darlington Arena if it is to avoid a financial crisis.

Although planning officials are backing the club's application, they are urging councillors to impose tough crowd restrictions on the Quakers.

As well as restricting audiences at pop concerts to 4,500 people, it will also place a limit of 6,000 on weekend football matches.

If the club wants to host more fans it will have to ask the local authority for permission.

Planning officials say the restrictions are needed to avoid traffic chaos at the Neasham Road stadium.

Attendance would be allowed to exceed 6,000 only if the club produced a management plan and obtained written permission from Darlington Borough Council.

Football bosses have said the club is making a loss and needs to boost the average match attendance to more than 5,000 fans just to break even. However, the gate topped this figure only on three out of 23 occasions last season.

In March, club bosses said that unless it was given the go-ahead to host non-football events, it could face bankruptcy.

Now, a report by council officers has recommended that members of the planning committee approve the application when they meet on Wednesday.

But the conditions include:

* Maximum weekend match day attendance of 6,000 or 4,500 for non-sporting events or weekday matches;

* The club must pay for improvements to the A66/Neasham Road roundabout within three months;

* The stadium must have secure bicycle parking;

* Concert audiences must sit on the pitch because the concrete used to build the stadium is not strong enough;

* Prior to any non-football event, the club must provide written proof that the pitch will not be damaged;

* More parking;

* No amplified music must be played outside the stadium without written permission from the council;

* Concert music must not be played through the stadium's sound system;

* Concerts must finish before 10pm, unless prior written permission has been given by the council.