THE crisis surrounding Darlington FC deepened last night after a stormy creditors' meeting left the club's survival hanging by a thread.

The meeting was adjourned until Tuesday to allow the validity of claims from major creditors, including former chairman George Reynolds, to be investigated.

But, with the Football League demanding that the Quakers' future be resolved by next Friday, the club has only days to find a solution.

The club would have been doomed yesterday if there had been a final vote on a company voluntary arrangement - worth a total of £150,000 - proposed by stadium owner the Sterling Consortium.

Influential creditors, including Mr Reynolds, Barclays Bank, the Inland Revenue and Hall Construction - the Ferryhill company that built the stadium - had all indicated that they would not back the proposal.

But despite the gloom, Sterling financier Stewart Davies last night issued a defiant message to fans. He said: "We will ensure football is played in Darlington next season."

Talking exclusively to The Northern Echo, he said: "The Sterling Consortium will do whatever it can to ensure Darlington FC can play football.

A spokesman for Hall Construction said: "We want to stress that we are not against Darlington Football Club and that we want to see the club have a future. But it was impossible to support a proposal which was so unfair to creditors and which puts businesses in the town in jeopardy."

The Northern Echo can also reveal that Hall Construction was involved in a consortium seeking to put together another rescue bid.

Sources at the creditors' meeting said the figure discussed was £3.7m but it was not put in writing.