THE chief executive of Darlington Football Club yesterday told of his aspirations for the new-look Quakers.

Only days after creditors accepted a deal allowing the Sterling Consortium to take charge, Andy Battison said the financiers were not about to "cut and run".

He said he expected Sterling, which stepped in as a last resort to protect a £4m investment in the club, to be at Darlington for a number of years as part of the rebuilding process.

The chartered accountant also revealed several well-known footballing names were being considered for key off-the-field roles.

The take-over has yet to be ratified by the Football League, but Mr Battison and Sterling financier Stewart Davies will meet league officials in Preston, on June 7, to present their case.

League bosses are not expected to stand in the way and their approval would leave Sterling, which has made loans to football clubs in the past, in the unexpected position of owning one.

The group's involvement has raised supporters' eyebrows, but Mr Battison said: "Everybody tells me Sterling are not interested in football - dead right.

"But they're now in a situation where they've got to run it and make it work to actually see any sort of return, or indeed just get their money back.

"I can see them staying for the medium term. If it's two years, three years or five years, so be it. It's not going to be a case of cut and run.

"As they put more and more money into the stadium to keep it going, all of a sudden they found themselves bound in. Let's be under no illusion now - they've got to stay and make it work."

One of Mr Battison's priorities is constituting a board of directors, which will include a representative of Darlington Supporters' Trust. That process will develop over the next month, and he revealed that there may be some surprises.

"We are speaking to people outside the club who have a lot of football history," he said.

"It would be a bit of a thrill for the town to know that these people are interested in Darlington Football Club."

The chief executive could not confirm any names, although Scotland legend Kenny Dalglish has been named in connection with a figurehead role.

A commercial manager should be appointed shortly and will help with the task of rebranding many parts of the stadium, including finding a corporate-sponsored name to replace the Reynolds Arena.

The club will also be seeking corporate sponsors for individual stands and the roofs of them, with airlines flying from the regional airports possibly in the frame.

Mr Battison praised Darlington Borough Council for its assistance as the club looks to complete building work on the stadium, principally the North Stand and dealing with a lack of toilet facilities.

"There is further grant money available and that is crucial," said Mr Battison.

He also spoke of the many ideas already under consideration to boost revenue, if the council gives its consent.

"We are looking at plans for developing areas within the stadium. Can we get a fitness centre in? Can we get a restaurant in? Can we get an early learning centre in? These are the kind of things we'll be looking at," he said.

A council spokesman said directors from the authority were happy to meet club officials to discuss plans.

* Late last night, midfielder Ian Clark turned down a two-year deal with York City to stay with the Quakers.