HUNDREDS of Darlington football fans are in for a cash windfall thanks to millionaire chairman George Reynolds.

The Quakers supremo is offering to buy back shares from people who have a stake in the club.

The shares are worth 25p each but Mr Reynolds, who already owns 94.7 per cent of Darlington FC, is willing to pay 50p for them.

He is urging all shareholders to take up his offer because he is planning to change the trading name of the club next year and when that happens, the shares will be worthless. Many supporters have already cashed in their shares with some making as little as £125 and others as much as £17,000.

Mr Reynolds said that the offer to buy the shares is his way of thanking those who put their money into the Quakers when the club was struggling.

"If I wanted I could liquidate the old trading company and those with shares in it would be entitled to nothing because they would be worthless," he said.

"But I want to give something back to those people who have supported the club over many years."

The club has stressed that supporters are under no obligation to sell their shares but that they could lose out altogether when the trading name is changed as part of the move to the new ground.

People who sell their shares will be given the chance of buying ones in the new company.

Anyone who wants to sell their shares should contact Luke Raine on (01388) 772779.