Darlington’s Last Stand?

Could It Be The Last For Darlington?

It’s a sad situation when it comes to the fact that clubs are run down by people with egos bigger than the towns themselves but all too often it is just that that is behind the current situation that could mean that Darlington could well not be in the third division next season despite securing their league status on the pitch.

Swansea fans know only too well of situations where owners come in and try to bleed a club dry for their own personal gain. We have battled with the likes of Lewis and Petty here and luckily enough for us we have won. Darlington are in the middle of one such battle and we have to hope that they win too. And let’s be mindful of that when we visit the North East on Saturday and remember how fans of other clubs supported us in our hour of need.

But why was it allowed to happen? How did it get to the stage that they could be facing just one more game at a new stadium which was designed to take the club forward or so Mr Reynolds would like them to believe. George Reynolds proclaimed himself as a saviour when he took over the reigns at Darlington but he has proved no better than some of the other idiots that are allowed to take charge of a football club these days and mess with the lives of thousands of people in the process.

He built the new stadium and in his own modesty he named it after himself (wait for White Rock to be named the Lawrence Bailey Stadium!) and then he proceeded to hire a group of heavies who threatened any man who dared to question his running of the football club. You have read on here before the story of Scott Thornberry who took late night visits from George and that was just for the odd message board post.

Reynolds has on his own reduced Darlington to a mere side issue alongside his own personal ego and now he is facing a bankruptcy case on May 19th which could well decide the fate of the club., Reynolds has claimed that he is a major creditor of the football club but should he be declared bankrupt then what he does with the football club is out of his control.

A new consortium, motives questionable?, has assumed control of the stadium and removed it’s title the Reynolds arena but without the bankruptcy order against the former owner then they cannot get their hands on the footballing side of the club which is what they want – complete control.

There is a trust supported consortium outside these two parties waiting in the wings to assume control but, as we understand it, nothing can be done until the other two parties have taken their pound of flesh from the carcas that currently is Darlington Football Club.

It is quite possible that the club may cease to exist over the summer but it is hoped that it will not come to this but for any Jacks making the long trip North on Saturday then please remember that this could be the last time that Darlington fans could see their club in action at home in it’s present form and show them your own support for their plight. We would have expected the same in our position a few years back.

There can be light at the end of the tunnel for them but at times like this football fans should be united. We won our battle – theirs is still to be won.

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Why not check out the latest Vetch Verdict on the BBC site?