ROCK bottom of the Football League, eight points from safety and staring relegation in the face - to the neutral observer things could not be much worse for Carlisle United.

In fact, they could have been far worse.

The Cumbrians may occupy 92nd spot on the league ladder, but their very existence is something of a football miracle.

Darlington fans have endured a roller-coaster ride for the past five years, but the Quakers' highs and lows have been more than matched by their relegation rivals.

Long considered a sleeping giant, with a potentially huge fan base, Carlisle slumped to an all-time low in 1992 when the club finished bottom of Division Four.

It only survived relegation to the Conference because Aldershot went out of business and dropped out of the League.

Salvation then appeared to have come in the form of ex-Manchester United director and famous UFO-spotter, Michael Knighton.

He strode into Brunton Park and took the Blues fans on an unforgettable journey that included reaching the Third Division play-offs in 1993/94 and clinching the championship the following season.

But, after a yo-yo period where the club bounced between the second and third divisions, matters off the field began to descend into turmoil.

In May 1999, back in the football basement, insurance tycoon Brooks Mileson declared his interest in buying out Knighton and taking control of the club he loved.

But no deal emerged and there then followed years of rumours, speculation, claim and counter-claim.

Memorably - or not, as the case may be, for hardened United fans - this period included the extraordinary Stephen Brown episode.

Touted as a potential saviour, with a reported £6m in the bank from the sale of a hotel in Spain, Brown turned out to be an unemployed former barman from a curry house.

For supporters, the suffering went on. Further frenzied speculation amounted to nothing until, on May 24, 2002, a bombshell announcement was made.

The Inland Revenue issued a winding up petition against the club over an unpaid £416,000 tax bill.

Carlisle was placed into voluntary administration, with debts of nearly £1m. Mr Mileson was again mooted as a buyer, along with Irish businessman John Courtenay.

The Carlisle and Cumbria Independent Supporters' Trust hailed the development as the "rebirth" of the club.

Mr Courtenay eventually took control in August after creditors and shareholders unanimously backed his rescue package.

At the time, joint administrator David Elliot warned there were no second chances - if the club defaulted on debt repayments, it would be shut down.

The club came out of administration in October 2002, after a hearing at Leeds High Court.

With strict financial restrictions lifted, Carlisle were free to concentrate on raising fortunes on the pitch. That in itself will be a long haul, but spirited performances in recent weeks have had Darlington looking over their shoulders.

Both clubs are no strangers to financial troubles off the pitch. Now they are fighting for their lives on it.

But Quakers fans can take heart from the fact that even the most desperate footballing crisis can be turned around.

Spare-a-minute cash drive gives Quakers a £20,200 lift

THE Northern Echo's sponsor-a-minute appeal for Darlington's crucial game against Rochdale tomorrow has reached £20,200.

Scores of companies, organisations and individuals have pledged to sponsor a minute of the match.

Although each of the 90 minutes of the match has been sponsored at least once, you can still sign up to support the Quakers. Sponsors will be accepted until midday tomorrow.

To sponsor a particular minute of the normal 90 minutes play, the price is £100 for companies and organisations and £50 for individuals or groups of individuals.

A total of 162 companies and organisations have agreed to sponsor a minute, and 80 individuals or groups of individuals have also signed up.

Among the latest sponsors are British American Tobacco and Cummins, both in Darlington, who have each pledged £1,000.

Darlington Building Society, the club's primary sponsor, has set up an interest-earning account to channel money raised by the appeal to be used by the administrators to address the club's immediate day-to-day solvency.

The building society is offering a prize of two tickets for a home game to any sponsor in whose minute a goal is scored.

To sponsor, ring The Northern Echo hotline on 0800 0280603 or visit www. thisisthenortheast.co.uk

Read more about the Quakers here.