FORMER Darlington manager David Hodgson has ruled out any return to the club as he does not want to be part of somebody’s “impossible dream”.

Hodgson, who is revered by Quakers fans after three spells as manager, had been touted as a possible investor in the club by supporters.

He admits he has been approached by parties who have held talks with the administrators about playing a role at the club.

However, he has stressed he has no plans to leave BHP Law, where he works as director of sport.

Hodgson said: “I have no intention of leaving BHP. I’ve found myself in a fantastic job, working with some great people and I won’t be giving that up.

“The sports division of the company has really taken off and that’s an exciting challenge for me now and in the future.

“People have come to me and asked if I would come back to be a part of the club in the future. I don’t want to be a part of somebody’s impossible dreams, because everybody has been saying the same thing.

“They say they’re prepared to spend fortunes and promise that they’ll get the crowds back up again.

“I’ve asked them what they’ll do in six months’ time when the crowds are back to 3,000 or 4,000 – because that is the best Darlington presently can hope for – and they say that won’t happen.

“They say they’ll keep attendances at 7,000 or 8,000 every game, but I’m afraid that won’t be the case.”

Hodgson said any future owner would do well to follow the example of former chairman Stewart Davies, who took the helm after the club last emerged from administration.

Hodgson said: “They really would need to take a leaf out of his book.

“Stewart Davies gave me a playing budget of £640,000 a year and that was based on a prediction that we would get 2,800 season ticket holders, plus 300 or 400 more through the gates on a match-day.

“That was sensible and that was why the club was run perfectly when he was the chairman.

Someone with that kind of mentality is needed now.

“Anybody buying the club needs to be straight with the public, explain the bottom line and accept that it will have to survive on crowds of about 3,500.

“These people saying they’ll have 8,000 through the gates had better hope that the team’s winning 6-0 in every game and sitting at the top of the league.

“If these people want to throw millions of pounds at it, then the club’s going to be right back in the same situation in a few years’ time.

“George Houghton has pumped more money into that club to try and gain success than any chairman in the past 20 years. He has backed his manager all the way with finances and I don’t see how anyone could be critical of that.”