COMMUNITY leaders joined the fight to save Darlington Football Club yesterday.

Darlington Supporters' Trust, which has Government-backing, has launched an appeal aimed at keeping the club afloat.

The trust hopes to raise £250,000 by the end of March, with the money being kept in a bank account to be used if the club is in imminent danger of closure.

Members of Darlington Partnership, who debated the future of the Quakers at their board meeting yesterday, demonstrated their support by backing the trust.

They included chairman Alasdair MacConachie; Darlington College of Technology principal Sarah Farley; Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College principal David Heaton; Chief Superintendent Michael Banks, of Darlington police; Peter Barron, editor of The Northern Echo; Pam Eccles, executive director of the Learning and Skills Council Tees Valley, Colin Morris, chief executive of Darlington Primary Care Trust, and Dave Preston, from Firthmoor and District Community Association.

Mr MacConachie said: "A good town needs a good football club and Darlington is no exception.

"Everybody at the partnership was up for helping to save the club. We represent the public sector, the voluntary sector and the private sector, and we are all as one behind the trust's efforts."

The trust's membership is nearing 400 and it is hoped it will top 1,000 following a public meeting at the town's Dolphin Centre on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, messages of support have been sent by football figures in the region.

Sunderland FC chairman Bob Murray said: "This is a very difficult time for Darlington Football Club and its loyal supporters, and we wish them the very best of luck - a sentiment which I'm sure is echoed not only by Sunderland supporters, but by all North-East football fans.

"We have supported Darlington FC in the past, allowing them to take players on loan, most recently Craig James, and we hope to continue to be able to support the manager and the club in the future."

Former Quakers star Kevan Smith also backed the trust's campaign saying: "The money situation is unbelievable, it is going to take people's breath away.

"We now need an absolute surge of people coming forward to support the trust. We have got to think positive."

Darlington FC legend Ron Greener, who made a club record 442 league appearances, said: "I will be supporting the trust's appeal and I hope it is successful.

"We need as many people and businesses in Darlington as possible to get behind the club and I'm sure they will."

Anyone wishing to join the trust can fill in the form printed below. Subscription costs £5 for a year or £100 for lifetime membership.

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