CHINESE students could soon be in the region for football coaching and English lessons.

Darlington Football Club will look after the students, after representatives from the club last week visited the Guangdong region of Southern China to forge sport, education and business links.

The visit was part of a move to create a relationship with the region, which it is hoped will benefit the whole town.

Jon Sotnick, chief executive of the Darlington club, said: "Football is a universal language and there is a great deal of goodwill towards Darlington Football Club in Shenzhen, Guangzhou and Shunde, in the Guangdong Province of China, - it is definitely opening doors within the local communities.

"I was made incredibly welcome during the visit and believe that it can only benefit the football club and the Darlington economy to have such a cordial relationship with these vast cities in Guangdong.

"The Guangdong FA is keen to work with the football club and its coaching team to send students to undertake footballing courses, while at the same time honing their English language skills.

"It is very likely that we could be looking to accommodate up to 50 students at any one time and this will have a bearing on the exciting plans we have for the land surrounding the Darlington arena."

The latest visit could pave the way for a football tour to the Guangdong region in the future, after a similar tour was cancelled earlier this year.

Mr Sotnick said he was keen to establish the club in Asia.

He said: "I cannot stress enough the opportunities that there are for the football club and the town in this exciting partnership with the Chinese. I expect to be returning to China, hopefully with my chairman, George Houghton, next month, to progress some of the initiatives that have arisen."

Although negotiations are still at an early stage, Mr Sotnick said the response so far was positive.

During the visit to China, the Darlington delegation was introduced to a company specialising in recycling and waste management.