It looks all over for the Quakers

The grim warning came as the only bid to buy the debtridden Quakers was yesterday rejected as unworkable.

Ten staff have also been told they will lose their jobs, including assistant manager Martin Gray, goalkeeping coach Andy Collett and longserving kitman Andrew Thompson.

Gray was the driving force behind Sunday’s all-star fundraising match, but that has failed to generate enough cash to keep the club afloat.

Administrator Dave Clark said the outlook was dire and that without a new owner, it was impossible to justify to the Football League how the Quakers could start the next season.

“If we have no purchaser, we have no exit plan to remove it from administration. The future of the club is absolutely in doubt,” he said. “I was confident when we started that we had a window to find a purchaser.

We haven’t been able to find that, or someone with a realistic offer.”

The club, in its 125th season, was placed in administration in February by former chairman George Houghton. That led to a ten-point deduction, scuppering realistic promotion hopes.

Vice-chairman Raj Singh emerged as the only interested party to table a bid by the initial April 20 deadline.

But he later withdrew his offer after the administrators extended the deadline to May 5 and manager Dave Penney quit to join League One club Oldham Athletic. However, yesterday the Teesside businessman made a further 11th hour “take it or leave it” offer to save the League Two club.

Speaking last night, Mr Clark, from administrators Brackenbury Clark and Co, said: “Reluctantly, we have got one offer that is not acceptable.

We have also had to let some staff go. It is pretty dire at the moment. I am really disappointed to have to do it and I would like to thank those staff for their patience.”

He said he would issue a full statement this morning.

Mr Clark said the administrators must prove to the Football League there is a plan to lift the club out of administration before it will be permitted to start the 2009-10 season.

He said the decision to cut jobs came after Sunday’s allstar match at The Northern Echo Darlington Arena, which included Paul Gascoigne, only attracted 3,400 fans and failed to generate enough money.

There are plans, including possible pre-season friendlies, to raise more cash.

Mr Clark said he was unable to give full details of Mr Singh’s bid, but said it was unworkable because of the conditions attached. Mr Singh, on behalf of a consortium of three people, made an offer for the club, land and stadium, which would have allowed Mr Houghton to walk away without any debt.

Last night, Martin Gray told The Northern Echo: “It was the best weekend of my career at the club. I took charge of the last game of the season on Saturday at Chester, which we won, then we had the fundraising game in which I scored a couple of goals, something I never did in my career.

“I did everything I could to support the club, and then three days later I’m told I’m being sacked.

“But this isn’t about me, it’s about Darlington Football Club and the people who have lost their jobs.

“We’re talking here about people’s lives. It’s frightening.”

Yesterday, Darlington Borough Council leader John Williams said: “The council has been co-operating with the administrators since the club went into administration.

“We have also been able to advise the administrator on the range of opportunities that are possible under existing permissions to run events to generate income.”

Last night, Scott Thornberry, who runs fans’ website Darlo Uncovered, backed The Northern Echo’s plea.

He said: “Behind the scenes we have got someone who is willing to take over the club but it is unworkable for some reason.

“Raj Singh sees a future and potential. If Raj wants it, George Houghton has to cut his losses and go. Otherwise no one will gain. George will lose everything and the town will lose its club.”

Mr Houghton said any statements he made would be through the administrators.

Mr Singh was unavailable for comment.