Darlington public relations director Luke Raine and newly titled 'director of football' revealed last night that chairman George Reynolds left the game early "because he was scared for his own safety".

He also admitted that Quakers "are on the slide" following the team's 3-0 defeat against Chesterfield.

Reynolds left his seat in the director's box midway through the second half to taunts from the crowd, and left the ground in his car a few minutes later, telling a nearby fan: "We'll sort this out on Monday."

Raine said: "The chairman didn't speak to me, but I assume that he was thinking of the safety of his wife and mother-in-law. He's definitely not walking away from the club, he just thought that discretion was the better part of valour.

"He heard before the game that there was going to be a protest. Maybe his timing was a bit off, but I think he did the right thing.

"He doesn't like rejection. He's been successful all his life, and football is a different game from what he's used to."

A section of fans stayed behind in the Tin Shed after the game to protest, and Raine said: "If they want to protest, then that's fine. They pay their money, and if it makes them feel good, then it's OK by me."

It looks as if Reynolds won't be taking such an active role in team affairs, because Raine has taken on more responsibility in a director of football role.

"I had a meeting with the chairman and manager Gary Bennett and I'll be working more on the football side with Gary, and the chairman will take more of a back seat and do a little less work.

"He's not a young man, but he's still committed to the club. If he hadn't turned up - and I'm not going to go on about the debts and stuff - then the club wouldn't have been here.

"He's made a commitment to the club and he's honoured it. If the fans are frustrated, then they have my sympathy, because no football fan likes to see their team getting beaten. We're on the slide, and we know that. I can understand the fans' passion for the club, and they don't want to be near the bottom of the league."

Raine admitted that Quakers were second best, and the search has now begun for new players ahead of Saturday's away game at Lincoln City, who are just above Quakers in the table.

"Nobody is more disappointed than me that we didn't win the game. Chesterfield were three goals better than us, and if it wasn't for Craig Liddle, they might have had five or six.

"I'm not going to hide the fact that we need to bring players in. We need a central defender, a midfielder and a striker."

Bennett's job is still safe, although shouts for previous manager David Hodgson were clearly heard in the second half.

"It's easy enough for the fans to shout for his dismissal, but he is doing the best with what he's got. He can't do any more with the tools he's got at the moment, and he's working from week to week."

l Defender Neil Aspin, who was controversially released by the club last week, was at Victoria Park on Saturday, watching Hartlepool take on Carlisle, to increase speculation he is poised to sign for Ian Atkins' side