THE departure of George Reynolds from Darlington Football Club last night marked the end of one of the most dramatic periods in the Quakers' 120-year history.

But will the flamboyant former chairman only be remembered for the bad times?

Steve Mangan, 34, a season ticket holder who travels to every home game from Leeds, said Mr Reynolds had failed to keep his promises.

"He's going to be remembered as the man who promised us the Premiership, but who could deliver the Conference," he said. "If we keep the stadium, he'll be looked on more favourably."

Ken Snowdon, 68, from Thornaby, Teesside, said: "George Reynolds initially saved the club - there's no doubt about that - and his main legacy is the Reynolds Arena. It was great at first, but it went from bad to worse."

Colin Lindley, 34, from Newton Aycliffe, said the chairman would have been better off keeping the club at Feethams.

"George Reynolds has put Darlington on the football map and his name is synonymous with the club. But unfortunately, we're seen as a laughing stock and the building of a 25,000-seater stadium has only served to make the situation a lot worse. Nice as the new stadium is, we should have stayed at Feethams."

Robert Sharp, from Darlington, said: "He helped the Darlington club out when they were in trouble, paid off the debt and built this new stadium. But he didn't build it for the football club itself, he thought he was going to be able to make money out of it by holding events in it."

He added: "He was a big hero when he saved the club, and I think that is where the problem is."

Gary Allen, 37, from Darlington, said Mr Reynolds should have been more open with fans.

"A while ago, Darlington was in dire straits and he lifted the club, and it was great for Darlington. If it wasn't for him there would be no football club.

"He built a new stadium for the club, but hasn't put any players into it. His mentality has not been for the club, it's been for himself.

"He hasn't kept the supporters informed about any of the financial problems and I think it's right he has resigned on that basis."

Peter Snowdon, 24, from Northallerton, North Yorkshire, said: "I think the whole thing with the club going into administration, he was seeing how far he could push the council to get his own way.

"The Darlington fans will be well chuffed that he has resigned.

"The concern I have is for the football club now. If they come out of administration they could go on to do really well because they will have managed to have good financial management."

The world according to George Reynolds

NEVER afraid to speak his mind, George Reynolds' four-and-a-half years at Darlington have produced a mass of media-friendly soundbites. These are some of them:

1/5/99. Just before officially taking over the club: We will bring a new dawn to Darlington and give fans a real reason to celebrate. They won't have to wait long before we are knocking on the door of the Premiership.

20/5/99. I know the fans have had a lot of promises over the last few years, and some people have had no real enthusiasm for the club. But I want this club to do well for the area and for the people.

15/6/99. I told the other chairmen that in my opinion far too much money was being spent on high priced players and far too much was being charged for tickets. It is not the footballers to blame, it is the chairmen who are prepared to pay higher and higher transfer fees and eventually price themselves out of the market.

6/8/99. As the team prepared for their first game under Reynolds: Realistically, I want us to get as many points as we can. I'm aiming for 25 wins this season - that should be enough to get us promotion.

19/8/99. I'm spending £20m on the club. I know I'll never get it back, but the main thing is to leave a lot of people happy.

6/12/99. Spending does not guarantee success. One day we'll be in the Premiership with millions in the bank and others will be wondering how we've done it.

11/8/01. No expense will be spared on this stadium. I intend to install the best fittings and finishings available. It is not in my nature to cut corners and I would never settle for second best.

March 2003. From his autobiography: Cracked It: Darlington Football Club will be in the Premier League within the next few years.

With no big new signings announced, a disappointing run of results for the team, and a delay in the opening of the new stadium, the critics started flinging mud in my direction. But I was not prepared to walk away from Darlington FC.

All my life I have surrounded by critics and doubting Thomases, and at every stage, one by one, I have proven those critics wrong.

18/7/03. On finding out he faced a public examination after his former company went into administratio,n £4.7m in debt: There is an inquiry and I am absolutely delighted, I welcome it with open arms.

16/8/03. At the Reynolds Arena's first-ever match: Which way are we kicking?

23/8/03: Once the stadium is up and running, my head will be completely clear and I can start to concentrate on the pitch and bringing in players.

18/9/03. On banning fans from the new stadium: Let no one be in any doubt that detractors can expect confrontation, either at the ground or at home.

25/9/03. After losing in court to Darlington Borough Council over his car boot sale plans: I am delighted with the outcome.

October 2003. On confronting his critics: People are all right in groups until you knock on their front doors at 20 past two in the morning. They don't like that. Nobody has a go at me. I find out where they live and I go and knock on their door.

31/10/03. On promising to take a back seat after Dave Hodgson was appointed manager: I have enough on my plate and, to be frank, it is doing my head in.

23/12/03. After handing the club over to administrators: I don't think I have done a bad job. I came in and saved the club from going bankrupt. But I couldn't keep putting money into a black hole. I will stick in here and see it through.

Printed on his gold business card: George Reynolds, managing director, chairman, gentleman, entrepreneur, adventurer, maker of money and utter genius.