COMPUTERS containing confidential accounts and information about players' wages have been stolen from Darlington Football Club's new stadium.

Thieves broke into the stadium on Neasham Road between 10pm on Thursday and 8am yesterday and stole three computers.

The intruders ransacked offices in the stadium, which is still being built and is not yet covered by security cameras.

Former safe cracker and club chairman George Reynolds said: "We are planning to have 90 cameras around the stadium but they haven't been installed yet. I think the people who did this knew that we weren't covered by CCTV."

As well as containing the names and addresses of players and their wages, the stolen computers detailed information about season ticket holders.

Mr Reynolds said: "There are a lot of things on those computers that the club needs. The addresses and phone numbers of fans and players were all on the database as well as some financial information.

"The thieves obviously wanted to make as much mess as possible. They have caused a lot of damage and mess."

As well as the computers, a wheelbarrow and lawn mower were taken from the multi-million pound stadium, which is due to open in time for the new season.

A police spokesman said the burglary was being investigated.