FOOTBALL Club chairman George Reynolds says he has collected more than 800 signatures in support of his bid to hold car boot sales at the Reynolds Arena.

The Darlington club boss believes he can gather at least another 9,000 signatures before his planning application goes before councillors on December 17.

Mr Reynolds said that he had been leaving petitions at local shops and businesses.

"We've got 800 (signatures) in a day and a half," he said. "Everybody is wanting it. The town is going mad for it. I'm rather stunned. I never thought we'd get 800 in a day and a half."

The petition said: "Darlington Football Club would like to hold car boot sales and other activities at Darlington Football club's new stadium at Hurworth Moor, Neasham Road, to generate additional income required to sustain the football club. Please pledge your support by signing below."

Mr Reynolds said: "We've done nearly 1,000 (signatures) a day. That's a hell of a lot. We are just going to keep pumping them out. I could guarantee we could get 10,000 signatures."

He added: "I'm struggling to pay the wages. It's impossible to keep this stadium open on ten working hours a month."

But Neasham Road Action Group said residents were promised that only football would take place there when planning permission was given.

Mr Reynolds said he had collected more than 100 signatures from residents of Neasham Road.

Yesterday, the council had received about 30 letters objecting to the application and none in support.

Jan Mazurk, chairman of Neasham Road Action Group, said: "We are taking other official steps, other than going door to door, to object.

"What Mr Reynolds doesn't say on his petition is that the car boot sales won't just be on Saturday.

"The application does not state a day, so he could be holding events seven days a week."

Mr Reynolds said yesterday he was not trying to take business away from the town's market traders and would give them £25,000 worth of free advertising a year in match programmes.

He said: "If we work together it will be good. I don't want to work against them."