THE chief executive of Darlington Football Club last night told of his regret at leaving the resurgent Quakers.

Andy Battison has stepped down from the hot-seat at the Williamson Motors Stadium, with chairman Stewart Davies now in charge of the day-to-day running of the club.

Mr Battison took up the post in May, in the wake of a last-ditch bid by the Sterling Consortium to save the then ailing club.

Since then he has overseen great changes in the commercial arm of the club, including a string of initiatives designed to bring the Quakers closer to the community again.

An on-site training ground and study centre are being lined up, while a season ticket holders' bar, match-day bus services and special offers to tempt new supporters to the club have been introduced.

Last night, Mr Battison said: "I was tired when I went away on holiday, and when I came back I had a word with the chairman and basically decided it was time to move on.

"There's nothing more to it than that. It was always agreed that I would be here for as long as I was required, while the club got back on its feet."

The 47-year-old, who lives near Knaresborough, North Yorkshire, added: "My family certainly came into it, as I was spending very long hours up there.

"The chairman is also keen to play a bigger role as well.

"He wants to be more hands-on.

"It is with regret that I'm leaving, but I wish everybody all the best - they've got something there that is really going places and I hope it continues to work out."

Darlington manager David Hodgson praised Mr Battison, saying: "As an active and successful business consultant, he had spent more time at the club than was originally planned.

"The fact that he now feels it is possible to leave this assignment is an indication of how the club has grown from strength to strength in its commercial business.

"Andy has worked exceptionally hard, brought integrity to the club and has done an excellent job taking Darlington FC forward."