DARLINGTON FC's future looked more secure last night after administrators revealed details of a new deal to solve the club's financial crisis.

Administrators Wilson Field have drawn up proposals they believe will ensure the crisis-hit club is still in business next season.

Tomorrow's deadline for firm bids is set to pass without any deals on the table, despite interest from a consortium of local businessmen and Greece-based fan Ted Forster.

But joint administrator David Field last night told The Northern Echo that new proposals outlining a fall-back option to save the club were expected to be sent out to creditors next week - although mystery still surrounds the exact details.

Mr Field said he was close to finalising a company voluntary arrangement (CVA), a deal to keep the club out of liquidation.

Although he declined to give precise details, any CVA is likely to offer creditors a fraction of what they are owed. Crucially, however, Mr Field believes that the deal would be accepted at the next creditors' meeting, due to take place by the end of the month. If it is, the club will be able to emerge from administration intact.

Mr Field said the plan represented a "worst case scenario" for creditors. He pledged the door would remain open for other parties to make better offers.

Administrators are remaining tight-lipped over who they have lined up to fund the CVA.

They would not reveal who would run the club under the deal, but stressed that former chairman George Reynolds would not have any role.

One possible "white knight" may be the Sterling Consortium - the financiers who hold a £4m mortgage on the Reynolds Arena. No one from Sterling was available for comment last night.

Mr Field said: "Our plan depends on the creditors accepting that a little bit is better than nothing at all. It's not definite, but we believe it would satisfy creditors.

"If it is accepted, we would apply for the club to be taken out of administration and the club could continue into next season."

He added: "What we'll be trying to say to creditors is, 'This is the least we think we can achieve'."

The uncertainty surrounding the club's debts has deterred interested parties from tabling firm bids.

The administrators' plan has been drawn up to ensure the club does not face a winding-up order after the April 22 deadline set by creditors