Crisis-hit Darlington have eight months to come out of administration - or face starting next season with a ten-point penalty.

As from next August, Football League clubs in administration will be docked ten points.

If Quakers fail to stave off the threat of relegation to the Nationwide Conference, the same rules will apply.

A 12-point penalty is already in force in the Conference, with Exeter City, who have gone into administration through a Company Voluntary Agreement (CVA), appealing against a points deduction.

Quakers, who host Huddersfield this afternoon, were issued with a winding-up petition on Tuesday by the Inland Revenue as administrators moved in to review the club's dire financial situation.

To counteract the order, chairman George Reynolds placed the club into administration.

To make matters worse for manager David Hodgson, whose side currently sit in the relegation places, the company involved with the initial 28-day procedure have the right to accept any offers made for players, without the consent of Hodgson or Reynolds who has vowed to attend today's game.

Now the Quakers boss could face a fight to hold on to some of his key players, who will be forced to go through Christmas without being paid.

Three years ago, Quakers took advantage of another club's administration misfortune, when then-manager Gary Bennett brought in Hull City trio Clint Marcelle, David Brightwell and Steve Harper.

Quakers' plight will no doubt alert a number of clubs interested in prising away assets such as Barry Conlon, Andy Collett, Joey Hutchinson and skipper Craig Liddle.

If the players are not paid in the next six weeks, they will become free agents.

The PFA could intervene and put together a financial package for the players. But in agreeing to that, the club would face a transfer embargo, although they will still be permitted to make loan signings.

Hodgson's immediate thoughts are with today's visit of Huddersfield as second-bottom Quakers bid to claim only their second win in 14 League games.

"For me it is not difficult to think about football and I am serious about that," said Hodgson.

"What I will not allow here is an opportunity for people to use this as an excuse for poor performances.

"If there is any player out on that football field who is below par and not prepared to put that extra yard in then they will be off that pitch quicker than anyone.

"I wouldn't expect that from my players anyway.

"They have been excellent and have done everything I have asked of them in games and in training."

Having watched his side hold their own against some of the division's better sides, Hodgson is confident that results will improve.

"The way I look at it is we've played against Scunthorpe and Lincoln and we've managed to out-perform them and take points from them," said Hodgson.

"I see Huddersfield as being no different. We tend to let ourselves down against the lesser sides.

"We should have had three points from Macclesfield and there's not a man out there who can tell me any different.

"I know that we are capable of going out and creating opportunities against Huddersfield.

"It's just a case of putting our chances away."

After two goalless outings so far, on-loan striker Lee Matthews has yet to make the impact Hodgson would have hoped for in the absence of Conlon.

"Lee is a complete stranger to the club who has to settle in and perform," said Hodgson. "Right now the boy's attitude in the dressing room has been superb.

"He's told people how delighted he is to be at the club, even though the circumstances are very difficult. What more can I ask from a player than that?"

Matthews will start alongside Neil Wainwright today as Quakers aim to bounce back from Saturday's defeat at home to Macclesfield, where Hodgson's men squandered a host of chances.

"They were very disappointed after the Macclesfield game because we should have came away with three points," said Hodgson.

"We did everything right so hopefully with a bit of luck we'll get our reward."

While Hodgson can sympathise with the fans' frustration, he was unhappy with the way his players were treated after the Macclesfield defeat.

He admitted: "I thought the booing was a little bit harsh. It's easy to get frustrated when players aren't pulling their weight and passes are going astray but I've seen that happen in every division up and down the country.

"These are Third Division players and everyone makes errors. The public need to understand the level we're playing in. It's not as easy as some people make out.

"All the fans pay for is to see their team win. They don't care about administration, they pay solely to watch a winning team."

Top scorer Conlon and defender Ryan Valentine serve the final game of three-match bans today, before returning for Sunday's visit to rock-bottom Carlisle.

Huddersfield, who were relegated from Division Two last season, are boosted by the return of midfielder Jon Worthington after a hernia operation while former Sheffield Wednesday striker Andy Booth will also be fit.