Darlington's most successful former player, Kevan Smith, knows all about the effects administration has on a football club, and last night he warned the Quakers' players and staff to brace themselves for a rough ride.

Smith was assistant manager at Hull City when the Tigers went into administration during season 2000/01 and, although the club ultimately survived and prospered, the process of standing on the brink of extinction tests the mettle of everyone at a club.

Smith is one of Darlington's all-time greats. He played an integral part in the club's promotion in season 1984/85, and then captained Quakers to successive title wins during 1989/90 and 90/91 under Brian Little's management.

A decade later the pair teamed-up again at Boothferry Park, where they had to deal with off-the-field problems that threatened the future of Hull City FC.

Smith expressed his sympathy for all those involved in the current situation at Reynolds Arena.

He said: "I've been through it all before at Hull when I was working with Brian and I can tell you that Darlington face some very tough months.

"All the staff at the club have got kids to look after and mortgages to pay so it's going to be difficult and I feel for them.

"At Hull I ended up paying for some of the players' petrol because they were travelling for games from places like Mancester but they couldn't afford it."

Smith, who admitted the situation will foster a bond between players and staff, added: "One positive thing that came out of it was that the situation meant the players and manager really bonded and it created a great team spirit that saw us reach the play-offs."

Two years before winning promotion in '85 Smith was part of the Darlington squad when the club raised funds to stave off the threat of closure.

He recalled: "I remember walking through the town with a bucket collecting money for the Save The Quakers appeal. It was in the early 1980s when we needed to raise £60,000 otherwise the Inland Revenue were going to close us down.

"But I fear the club might need a bit more than that this time.

"It's a great shame. George came into the club in a blaze of glory, the club got to Wembley and almost got promotion. Just a few years later and look where we are.

"The hope would be, is there a local company out there that would be prepared to buy the club? Who is going to want to take on that stadium and a squad of players that is second bottom of the league?

"I'd heard a whisper that this day might have been coming. It's very sad news, I feel devastated."

Darlington's record appearance holder Ron Greener was saddened to hear the news. Greener played 442 League games for the club and said: "If the club was to disappear it'd be a loss to the whole community, the town and the area."

Read more about the Quakers here.