Craig Liddle believes there us now a positive vibe around Darlington after it was revealed that talks to save the club are ongoing.

Three weeks ago, having been plunged into administration, it appeared that the game at Barrow could be the club's last.

A number of players departed the club as they, and supporters, feared the worst, but venture capitalist Paul Wildes has emerged as a front-runner to save the club.

There are other interested parties and it is a boost to Liddle who, having seen his team lose 3-2 at Hayes & Yeading on Tuesday, is preparing for tomorrow's game with York.

"On Tuesday night, when you're 2-0 down after six minutes and the world's against you, you're thinking it can't get any worse and it's time to forget about it,'' he said. "But then there was positive news in the press.

"It's fantastic news. We've been hoping and praying that someone would come forward and take the club on. I don't think it's finalised yet, but we can see some light at the end of the tunnel so we've just got to hope that it's finalised and then we can move on.

"I've had a couple of conversations with him (Wildes) and they've been very positive. He wants to take the club on. I'm led to believe that he wants to stay at the Arena and develop his business in and around the Arena.

"On the football side of things he speaks a lot of sense. He wants to develop the youth side of things and incorporate them around some experienced players which is a no-brainer for me. You've got to do that when you're a football club of our size."

The money raised by the Darlington FC Rescue Group will keep the club alive until Monday, but Liddle believes that Quakers will survive past that point because of the interest being shown.

"Talks are at an advanced stage with a potential owner so if there's a chance of it happening I don't think the administrator would close the doors on Tuesday," said the interim boss.

"There's quite a bit of positivity because you've got the passion of a supporters' group along with the backing of a financial man, so it could work in our favour.

"Paul has the business skills and the finances to take us on, while the fans have the passion and they know what's required to get people around the town interested in the club.

"There's a lot more positivity around the place. We've moved on and we've got to hope that we get over this final hurdle and come through this stronger for it."

While developments off the pitch are promising, Liddle's team for tomorrow will again be without captain Graeme Lee.

He suffered a recurrence of a knee injury before Tuesday's match so had to drop out of the line-up. Liddle admitted that he would have stepped into the breach had he not completed a five-mile run earlier in the day, but the interim manager is not keen on coming out of retirement tomorrow.

Instead, youngster Scott Harrison, who was due to start Tuesday's game as a striker, will again play at centre-back.

Liddle said: "Graeme is going for a scan and it's unlikely he'll be fit. I'm almost certain he won't play on Saturday.

"It's been one blow after another, but Aaron Brown is doing gym work so hopefully he'll be fit."

Brown missed out on Tuesday after suffering an injury last Saturday against Fleetwood Town and was unable to train on Monday.

His place was taken by Phil Gray who, in making his first start of the season, was one of ten teenagers in Quakers' 16.

Although concerned that his younger players are being unduly affected by being in the "firing line" at the moment, Liddle does not expect the Conference to allow him to bring players in during the embargo.

But he has spoken to several possible new signings in the hope that the embargo will soon be lifted.