THE eagerly-awaited decision on whether troubled Darlington Football Club has a long-term future will be made just days after the end of the season.

Administrators Wilson Field said yesterday that the verdict could come in the week beginning May 10 - two days after the Quakers' last game.

Until then, the fate of the 121-year-old club essentially lies in the hands of would-be owners the Sterling Consortium and George Reynolds.

Sterling, the financier who loaned the former chairman nearly £4m to complete work on the Reynolds Arena, is reluctantly trying to take over the playing side of the business as a way of protecting its investment.

The group has already bought the stadium, but is facing a major obstacle in its bid to take over the club.

Mr Reynolds, the club's largest creditor, had insisted he will block any Sterling-funded deal unless the group dropped a bankruptcy case against him.

However, those proceedings are now under way and will resume next month in Newcastle.

If Mr Reynolds were to be made bankrupt, his vote as a creditor on any rescue package would pass to the Official Receiver or a trustee in bankruptcy.

But the hearing will necessarily not have a major influence on the club's future, according to joint administrator David Field.

"It will be part of our discussions when we sit down at the end of the season, but it won't be a big part of it," he said.

"It's now between George and Sterling to reach an agreement. If there is an agreement we'll get a voluntary arrangement out to creditors.

"If there isn't an agreement, there almost certainly won't be a club next season."

The administrators are already instructed to liquidate the club if it has not been sold, or a voluntary arrangement proposed, by next Thursday.

. That would not happen immediately and administrators are hopeful of securing a deal, but Sterling and Mr Reynolds are said to be nowhere near reaching a settlement.

If a takeover deal were possible, it would also have to be ratified by the Football League.