GEORGE REYNOLDS could be made the subject of a court order banning him from the £20m Darlington FC stadium that bears his name.

The Northern Echo understands that the Quakers' administrators, Wilson Field, will apply for an injunction this week to prevent the ex-chairman entering the Reynolds Arena.

If it is successful, it will be another blow for Reynolds, who is due to appear at Durham County Court today to face a bankruptcy hearing.

An informed source close to the club said last night that the administrators had become increasingly annoyed at Mr Reynolds making frequent visits to the Neasham Road venue.

They said: "It's basically the final straw now. He's been using the club's fax number, he's been using the phones and carrying on as though nothing has happened."

Mr Reynolds has regularly been seen at the ground - despite stepping down as a director and chairman in January, following the club's collapse into administration.

Last week, the stadium was sold to two members of the Sterling Consortium, the financiers who loaned nearly £4m - at an interest rate of 15 per cent - to Mr Reynolds to complete building work.

That loan was secured on the stadium and supported by a guarantee from Mr Reynolds that he would personally repay the money if the club were to default.

The Sterling group - comprising accountants Melvyn Laughton, Stewart Davies and Sean Verity - has since called on that guarantee and, when it was not paid, issued a bankruptcy petition.

The case will go before District Judge Marley this morning and the outcome is likely to have a serious impact on the future of the ailing football club.

A deadline of April 22 - next Thursday - for a voluntary arrangement deal to be proposed has been set by the Inland Revenue, which is owed about £460,000.

Administrators have said that they may be able to gain an extension if they could demonstrate to the Revenue that significant progress was being made.