A crisis meeting will be held on Monday following the announcement that Darlington Football Club has been placed in administration, The Northern Echo understands.

The meeting, attended by the town's business leaders and the Darlington Supporters Trust, will discuss a way forward for the club.

The trust is not ruling out a possible move back to the old Feethams ground from the club's new 25,000-seater stadium if it is necessary for the survival of the club.

Peter Ashmore, of the supporters trust, said: "George Reynolds has said Feethams was condemned since last season.

"We would like the council to clarify the position. We understand Feethams did need remedial work but whether it was condemned or not we don't know.

"We were concerned about the scale and size of the new stadium, whether a club of our stature could operate in a stadium of that scale.

"I think the club has to keep all its options open, including Feethams. If the survival of the club means returning to the ground, that is an option for us."

Mr Reynolds, the club chairman, placed the club in administration to prevent it being wound up by the Inland Revenue.

He said: "You should be aware that our old ground, Feethams, was condemned and that it was essential to relocate the club.

"The new stadium is almost complete and negotiations are ongoing with the council and it will be for the administrators to resolve this as matter of urgency."

Mr Reynolds invested more than £20m in the new stadium on the edge of Darlington but many fans felt the money could have been better spent on players.

Today, fans will get the first chance to support their club since the administrators were called in when the team takes on Huddersfield Town at the new arena at 3pm.

No one at the council was available for comment.

See Back Page