DARLINGTON defender Simon Betts last night claimed he can no longer afford to stay with the club after being asked to take a pay cut.

Betts looks certain to the leave Quakers in the summer after rejecting a reduction which he says represents a third of his wages - an offer he feels has made it impossible for him to remain at the club.

Club chairman George Reynolds last night defended the offer made to Betts, citing next season's wage capping restrictions as a major factor behind a number of pay cuts at the club.

The 30-year-old defender said the reduced terms came as a huge surprise, especially as he believes he is not one of the club highest earners.

"Apart from being a big disappointment I don't think the offer the chairman made me was fair," said Betts. "If I was earning big money and he asked me to take a cut then that would make it a bit more easier to take but I'm not.

"I have done my job to the best of my ability, played in just as many games as anyone else in the last two seasons and the club turns around and offers me less. Where is the sense in that?"

But Reynolds insisted last night that the offer made to Betts was justified. "We offered him a new contract and he didn't feel it was acceptable," said Reynolds.

"He's not the only one who has been offered reduced terms but we need to weigh things up especially with wage capping coming in next season.

"We'll be sorry to see him go but unfortunately our offer wasn't good enough for him.

"He's a great lad but he's two years older now and it was his choice at the end of the day."

Betts added: "The worst thing is I know the manager wants me there but I have a family to think about.

"I've worked my socks off for two years and now suddenly the chairman is telling me I don't deserve what I'm on.

"If people could imagine if it was their livelihood would they be willing to take a 33 per-cent cut?"

Betts, who has been a virtual ever-present since joining the club two years ago, missed the last five games of the season after turning down the offer.

But he paid tribute to the fans, saying: "It's a shame the way things have worked out but if I don't play for the club again then thanks to everybody who has supported me. The fans have been brilliant."

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