A PLAN will be thrashed out this morning for crisis-hit Darlington Football Club to be owned and run by the local community.

Darlington MP Jenny Chapman will discuss the plan with administrator Harvey Madden this morning before chairing a meeting of local businessmen who are fighting to save the 129-year-old club.

The aim is to set up a community interest company, which would run the club under a board of trustees, with all proceeds from matches and merchandise being invested back into the club.

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Darlington FC Supporters Club is also raising money, with bucket collections at the ground. Cheques made payable to the club can be sent to 6 Somerset Grove,Darlington, DL1 2LL.

Mrs Chapman will launch an appeal to raise £500,000 within a week to convince Mr Madden that the backfrom- the-dead club is a going concern.

She told The Northern Echo last night: “I think this is the only way to give the club a sustainable future, so that it isn’t always at the mercy of a single owner. I believe it is realistic and achievable.”

Mrs Chapman said it would be up to the board of trustees to work out where the club would play in the future, but a more costeffective venue would be needed in the long-term.

Following further talks over the weekend, former chairman Raj Singh is understood to have supported the idea, saying he would give up his claim to a £1.8m debt if the club was run as a community interest model.

Meanwhile, developers remain interested in pursuing a leisure and homes plan, featuring an indoor snow sports centre, on the site of the stadium and land.

The developers were at Darlington’s match against Fleetwood Town on Saturday and held further talks with the administrator and Mrs Chapman.

Shaun Campbell, spokesman for the Darlington FC Rescue Group, said last night: “We are fully committed to a club that is owned by the fans.”

Mr Campbell also said group members had been contacted by fans questioning the official attendance of 5,638, with regulars believing it appeared closer to 8,000.