DARLINGTON’S Boost the Budget campaign reached a total of £136,861 with the club’s Chief Executive declaring the fans as ‘the best in the world’.

For the sixth year running, supporters and businesses have put their cash towards the club’s budget for the summer as manager Alun Armstrong looks to put together a squad that is capable of achieving promotion from National League North.

The Quakers ended up in mid-table last season but are putting together ambitious plans to build their own home ground by the 2025/26 season whilst the club’s playing and coaching staff move towards a new hybrid model of working for next campaign as they look to go full-time in the years to come.

Nevertheless, the budget for the summer recruitment in place and the Darlo Chief can’t thank the fans enough to put their hard earned cash towards the club during tough times. “Once again, the Darlington fans have shown that they are the best in the world” said David Johnston.

“If you look at the economic backdrop we’ve got, the cost of living increasing, inflation, fuel etc, there is so much out there as we emerge from Covid and the impact of Brexit and of course with what is going on between Russia and Ukraine, it’s impacting the whole of the world.

“But again, we raise a target of £120,000 and the fans are going to hit it. It’s just great support.

“That gives Alun (Armstrong) the opportunity to go out and get the kind of players in that we want.

“We spoke wit Alun last night (Monday). We’ve got a very good backbone there but obviously we want to add to that squad and bringing Boost the Budget in to the level that we wanted to enables us to go out and do so.

“Once again, a huge thank you to everybody who has contributed and another fantastic effort by the Darlington fans.”