COUNCIL lawyers will today seek a High Court injunction to stop Darlington Football Club staging an unlicensed car boot sale at its new stadium.

Darlington Borough Council's application is being heard in public before a High Court judge in Newcastle.

However, club chairman George Reynolds insisted last night the boot sale would go ahead, and plans to contest the injunction in person.

He said: "I have got to do what is right for this club. I think it is very petty - I am not upsetting anybody. At the end of the day it will be pulling business into Darlington."

A council spokesman said the club would be breaching the town's market charter and acting without planning permission if it went ahead. He said traffic could also be a problem, as a residents' parking scheme would not be in operation.

Last night it was also revealed that the Football League has been asked to investigate comments made by the Quakers' chairman.

After banning several fans from the Reynolds Arena last week, Mr Reynolds said in a statement the website had waged a malicious campaign against him and his family.

He said: "Let no one be in any doubt that detractors can expect confrontation, either at the ground or at home".

In a complaint to the league, the Darlington Supporters' Trust wrote: "The statement made by the chairman of Darlington Football Club, which has not been retracted, brings Darlington FC and football in general into disrepute."

Mr Reynolds said: "If the Football League want to investigate it I welcome it with open arms. The Football League have not been in touch with me yet and, to be honest, I don't think they will bother.

"If people can't behave themselves I don't want them in the stadium."