TONIGHT, Darlington Football Club faces one of the most crucial matches in its history. And, for once, the result on the pitch doesn't really matter - although, obviously, a thumping win would help the mood.

What matters is the result of the supporters' and players' match-up with the chairman George Reynolds. The best result for all concerned is for the cool heads to win in what is bound to be a heated atmosphere.

There is no white knight waiting over the horizon should the result go the wrong way. Mr Reynolds is not the only option as owner - but there is no guarantee that that any new owner would be any better.

For the time being, Mr Reynolds is still the club's saviour - although he also has it in his power to be the club's destroyer.

After the events of the last few days, it is doubtful he will ever again receive the hero worship and adulation that once greeted his every parade around the pitch waving his scarf.

That, though, is a good thing as it will show that realism is setting in among the Quakers. Mr Reynolds' admission that the new stadium is highly unlikely to open as promised in August is, hopefully, part of that new realism. Similarly, the expectations of Darlington being in the Premiership within years must also be tempered.

There is nothing wrong with dreams, but those dreams must be rooted in reality.

The reality is that, for the last decade, Darlington has been a lower league club that has lurched from one ownership and financial crisis to the next. Stability must now be its number one goal.

The reputation of the club has suffered in the last few days - it is difficult to see how any half-decent player would choose to come to a club in such turmoil if he had an alternative.

Tonight, though, offers the first chance to begin restoring that reputation and to start creating stability.

The players have to accept Susan Reynolds' words of explanation, although they are not the unequivocal apology that they might have hoped for, and show they are fit to wear a Quakers' shirt.

The supporters have to accept that Mr Reynolds still has his heart in making the club a success; they must also accept that their actions and words may make him destroy it.

And finally, Mr Reynolds has to accept that now is the time to add level-headed diplomacy to his long list of other skills.