BOSSES at Darlington Football Club last night revealed the date they are hoping to come out of administration.

The Quakers want to be free from the supervision of the courts by Tuesday, Septem-ber 7.

Darlington collapsed into administration on December 23 and only survived the threat of closure when the Sterling Consortium stepped in to take charge at the 11th hour in May.

But the administration has dragged on as insolvency practitioner Wilson Field seeks to tie up loose ends.

It has left the Quakers facing restrictions about how many players can be on the books.

However, chief executive Andy Battison revealed last night that the club was confident of the restrictions being lifted soon.

He met Football League and Football Association officials yesterday, and said afterwards that the club was fulfilling the authorities' requirements.

It is hoped that the League board, meeting on September 7, will approve the transfer of the Quakers' share in the Football League to Darlington FC Ltd, the new company formed by Sterling.

Mr Battison said: "I was always hoping it would be done at the September board meeting. As soon as the share is transferred to Darlington FC Ltd, we are fully independent and what the administrators and the old company do does not affect us."

Coming out of administration would be another boost for the club, which signed a lucrative sponsorship deal this week.

The agreement with a North-East Peugeot dealership has seen the Neasham Road ground renamed the Williamson Motors Stadium.