A NORTH-EAST football club has been declared a no-go zone in order to stem a virulent bug that has devastated its playing squad.

Players and staff at Darlington FC were yesterday told to steer clear of its stadium for 48 hours after the outbreak which is being blamed, in part, for the Quakers slumping to their sixth successive defeat.

The club's doctor, Dr Steve Charlton, told players to stay at home after gastric flu ravaged the first team ahead of their League Two game on Boxing Day, a 2-0 home loss to Mansfield.

Yesterday, there was only a skeleton staff on site, with manager Dave Penney working from home.

The bug, which is believed to have spread during the coach journey to Wrexham on Saturday, left Darlington with just nine fit players the following day.

Club officials contacted the Football League to ask whether the Boxing Day game could be postponed, but the league said the fixture had to be fulfilled and, if necessary, Penney would have to field youth team players.

A spokesman for the club said it was Dr Charlton's belief that several players should not have played on Tuesday, including Simon Johnson, Brian Close and Craig James as well as Martin Smith, who was violently ill in the dressing room.

Players have been told to stay away until training resumes on Friday, when a roll call of fit players will be held.

Club chairman George Houghton said: "On top of the recent injury crisis, to have a flu bug sweep through the team before this crucial Christmas period is unbelievable. We were forced by the authorities to carry on and the result was that some younger players thrown in at the deep end, while five senior influential players were physically sick."

The chairman said he hoped to dip into the transfer market when the transfer window reopens in January.

Mr Houghton said: "I am sure we will get back to winning ways and make a challenge for promotion."