Darlington FC RIP

[Turkey]

Administrators have sacked all staff/players. Looks like thats game over for them.

 

[Whitterz]

what a shame

 

[severnside gull]

I think everyone hoped that the last minute campaign might save them - bit of a shock that it's not to be

 

[Fur Cough]

What happens to that stadium now?

Terrible news, a grand old, real footy club.

 

[seven stands]

Remaining Darlington players sacked, but hope still alive for future of Quakers From The Northern Echo)

THE administrator handling the affairs of Darlington Football Club has today terminated the contracts of the club's remaining playing staff.

The Quakers, who are facing extinction, only had a handful of staff on the books after a cull following their drop into administration earlier this month.

However, this does not necessarily signal the end of the 128-year-old club, as the Darlington Football Club Rescue Group (DFCRG), which has been heading the survival bid, believes a plan to invest in the club and the surrounding land is still alive.

A source close to the club said that the remaining members of staff had been told by the administrator, Harvey Madden, that their contracts were being finished.

However, the players could yet find themselves facing Blue Square Bet Premier League table toppers, Fleetwood on Saturday.

This is because the players could be asked to turn out in return for a match fee solely for this game.

A further meeting between the administrator and a potential investor is planned for Wednesday after initial talks today were described as positive.

still a glimmer of hope for them

 

[bhawoddy]

dreadful - sign of the times!

 

[Surrey_Albion]

what a shock,that is awful news, cant beleive this kind of thing can happen

 

[Publius Ovidius]

the flip side of buiding a brand new stadium that after the initial euphoria, you cant finance or fill and end up plummetting like a stone.

A sobering lesson.

 

[Easy 10]

George Reynolds killed that club by saddling it with that white elephant of a stadium. Its absolutely mindboggling that they are in a stadium that holds 25,000, when historically their crowds have barely limped above 4,000 when they were in the League (and in recent years have been around 2,000 - 2,500).

Devastating for their fans, I feel very sorry for them.

 

[Easy 10]

the flip side of buiding a brand new stadium that after the initial euphoria, you cant finance or fill and end up plummetting like a stone.

A sobering lesson.

It opened with a crowd of just over 11,000 for the first League game v Kidderminster, and they averaged about 5,000 for the first season.

They have NEVER had a fanbase to support a stadium of that size, nor were they ever likely to. A total and utter folly.

 

[Brian Fantana]

Very, very sad. It is so difficult to compete with the Big 3 up in the North East.

I can't see what use their ground is going to be. Some people have said that Newcastle Falcons will be interested in it, but their support is nowhere near good enough to fill 25,000. Kingston Park, their ground at the moment, holds 11,000 and they only fill about half of that. Plus, the majority of their fanbase comes from north of Newcastle and not South.

 

[Herne Hill Seagull]

One man's egomania bringing a club to its knees - a depressingly familiar story.

 

[Deleted member 22389]

That is scary. A depressing day for football and a harsh lesson. It puts all the moaning in to perspective. Football is now all about balancing those books. I just hope we are not being silly with money because that is a nightmare.

 

[BensGrandad]

Is there no way the stadium could perhaps lose one end or side and be 3 sided and soimething like a Tesco be built on the remaining side to help finance the club.

 

[Phat Baz 68]

Wrong totally wrong should not be allowed to happen !!!

 

[Husty]

This kind of thing is really sad, IMO, but at least its only a little club.

One day it will happen to a proper club with a real history. Football needs to sit up and take note.

Can we just ban this **** already?

 

[GYM]

This kind of thing is really sad, IMO, but at least its only a little club.
One day it will happen to a proper club with a real history. Football needs to sit up and take note.

You arrogant PRICK!!!

 

[Fur Cough]

This kind of thing is really sad, IMO, but at least its only a little club.

One day it will happen to a proper club with a real history. Football needs to sit up and take note.

Words fail me.

 

[Brian Fantana]

This kind of thing is really sad, IMO, but at least its only a little club.

One day it will happen to a proper club with a real history. Football needs to sit up and take note.

You really are a bellend.

 

[Simster]

This kind of thing is really sad, IMO, but at least its only a little club.

One day it will happen to a proper club with a real history. Football needs to sit up and take note.

Liverpool and Brighton my f***ing arse!