PLANS by Darlington Football Club's chairman George Reynolds to set up his own radio station are unlikely to get off the ground.

Mr Reynolds claimed this week that he was building a "state-of-the-art" studio at the club's new stadium to house Quakers FM, a 24-hour-a-day radio station broadcasting in the Darlington area.

He said he wanted to "give the people of Darlington the truth, not half the truth."

He added: "It is good for us because if the media say anything wrong we can get on and give some stick back.

"I will be able to get on and fill in the gaps; put the record straight on the radio."

But a spokeswoman for the Radio Authority, which issues radion broadcasting licences said there were no plans for any more in the area.

She said: "There is great demand throughout the UK for licences and there are more people wanting a licence than are available.

"Darlington is not on our timetable at the moment, so we are not planning to issue a new licence in that area.

"It may be possible to grant a licence to broadcast purely within the football ground, but an application would have to be submitted and considered by the Radio Authority."

The news is likely to come as a second slap in the face in less than a week for Mr Reynolds.

On Monday, former Newcastle, Spurs and England star Paul Gascoigne accused Mr Reynolds of using him as a publicity stunt.

Ironically, "Gazza" went on radio to counter suggestions that he was in talks with the Darlington chairman with a view to joining the Quakers for £1,000 a week.

Mr Reynolds said he had been in contact with Gascoigne but denied that money had been discussed or that he had offered him a contract with the club.