FIRSTLY I apologise both to the Echo and its readers for not being able to carry out the planned interview today (yesterday) – the circumstances were beyond my control and I am happy to rearrange a similar session should that be required. In the meantime I am providing the following update.

There has been a huge amount of press about Darlington Football Club while in administration – some correct and some, unfortunately, not correct.

The question-and-answer session was a good way for me to get across to the many readers and fans the facts and try to address some of the concerns.

There are a couple of points that I believe need to be said.

I particularly want to make it clear why the club was put into administration at such a critical time of the season.

Our biggest finance provider went into administration in early February.

This was a devastating blow for DFC and resulted in their administrators calling in their loan immediately.

Raj Singh and I looked into this grave situation and in the first instance he agreed to raise the necessary funding and keep the club going until the end of the season.

However, the economic climate was becoming increasingly challenging, and unfortunately Mr Singh soon declared he was unable to raise the much-needed cash.

I was left with no time to seek new investors or raise the funds myself.

There was no other option at the time than to call in the administrators.

Mr Singh’s investment was split between funding for the club and a loan secured on the land and stadium.

I know there have been many comments published about Mr Singh not being keen on a possible solution that could involve both of us.

This is unfortunate, as my opinion is that the first priority is to save the club.

I am happy to discuss matters further with Mr Singh in view of finding a solution where we can both move forward with or without DFC.

For example, if the football club was funded and I am prepared to rent the stadium free of charge.

The administrators have asked Raj to assist with some funding through this difficult time, but as I understand it he has refused to be involved at this stage.

Mr Singh has made an initial offer for the club, conditional on him acquiring the land and stadium; however he is aware that there is a significant first charge holder who will have to be addressed first.

There has been much publicised about prospective buyers.

Two of which, Otis and Schultz academy were prepared to back me with some significant investment.

However, there has been so much negative publicity from fans about me and my involvement in the club; unfortunately they have now withdrawn their interest. There is another bidder currently talking to the administrators.

I have invested millions into this club and the last thing that I want is to see the club die. I will consider any route to get to where we need to be to keep football alive in Darlington.

I’m sorry the fans feel so angry with me, but believe me there is more to the whole scenario than meets the eye.

As I said previously I am very happy to answer questions that fans may wish to ask and I will be asking my team to organise that in the near future.

The team on the pitch and off the pitch have been fantastic – all have shown resilience and commitment to DFC.

Dave Penney has had a huge task but he has risen to the challenge and managed to keep the impressive performance going.

The off-the-pitch team at the arena – now so small in numbers – have worked incredibly hard to keep things ticking and I thank them for their support and hard work.

I also understand that the Supporters’ Trust has retained funds from the last time the club went into administration.

I would like to urge them to work closely with the administrators.

Please explore ways that can help save DFC.

The funds raised by the generosity of fans would be used for nothing other than saving DFC.

All revenues from events and fundraising now go to the football club and not the holdings company associated with the land.

The administrators are more that happy to demonstrate this and again I would urge the trust, again to approach us with any ideas.

. . . and the questions supporters want answering

CLUB FINANCES AND ADMINISTRATION

●Why did you place the club in admin when you did?

● How are you the club’s biggest creditor? How much does Darlington Football Club owe you and when was it loaned?

John Roberts

● While acknowledging the disappointing attendances, how did your business model result in losing £54,000 each week and how does that reflect on your leadership?

Stuart Armstrong

● Why did you not seek assistance from the PFA or FA, or fully disclose the club’s financial problems to the fans and potential investors, prior to entering administration?

Tom McGuigan

● Why were the cuts the administrator made not made by yourself prior to going into admin?

Paul Colman

● Can you confirm that the second installment of David Stockdale’s transfer fee was brought forward the day before we went into admin?

If so, what happened to this money?

● How did the huge expenses occur which saw the club run up a debt of £5m in less than three years since you became owner?

Quaker Pete

● Why didn’t you just put the club up for sale instead of sending us into admin?

Steve Caisley

STADIUM AND LAND

● What expenses did the club accrue against its parent company (ie, stadium /land owner)? Did the club pay rent, services, salaries, etc., and who owns, or part owns, the parent company, and who owns the football club?

Quaker Pete

● Why did you put the club in admin but not the stadium or land?

Gary McTeer

● How come the holding company for the stadium is not losing money, but the football club has made massive losses?

Paul Colman

FUTURE OF THE CLUB

● Should you not retake the role of chairman, would you demand in full the “loans”

which you have saddled the club with?

Tom McGuigan

● Do you think the majority of supporters that Darlington FC do have left would support you if you in fact remained at the club?

Paul Cooper