Darlington chairman George Reynolds is staying away from Saturday's derby at Victoria Park - because he claims he is scared.

Last season's play-off encounter was a fiery affair with then Quakers' manager David Hodgson claiming he was struck by a coin thrown by a Pool fan and goalscorer Marco Gabbiadini was allegedly assaulted by a supporter as he left the pitch.

And while Pool fear a gate well down on a normal derby attendance as the game goes head to head with England's World Cup qualifier with Germany, Reynolds will be one of the stay-aways after vowing never to set foot in Victoria Park again.

Reynolds, speaking to Century Radio's Goffy in the Morning show, hosted by Century DJ and Hartlepool fan Paul Gough claimed: "We got very bad security last time.

"My wife and I had to walk through the crowds and we got spit at - but that's fans for you. It frightened my wife.

"It got really out of hand and I don't think we will ever go there again because we had to leave 20 minutes before the game ended through the back door last time. I blame the chief steward for that who should have given us protection.

"He sent one bloke all the way through the crowd and that's lethal to start with - you don't do that, he could have took us through the box and out.''

And Reynolds who first aired his views at at fans' forum at Feethams during the summer when he also suggested Quakers' fans also boycott Victoria Park, added: "The first time I went to Hartlepool I felt as secure as anything but the second time it frightened us very, very much and I'd be frightened to go through again.

"I wouldn't go there again and my wife wouldn't as well. When you are in the position you are in, as chairman of the opposition club, it's very dangerous.

"It was very badly controlled. They had about 29 incidents at that game - when they came up to Darlington we didn't have one.''

Pool refused to be drawn into a war of words with Reynolds and a spokesman said: "We believe Mr Reynolds will not be coming and Saturday. If he has any concerns we believe they will be clarified at the FA hearing into events of that day.''

But Pool fans have rejected Reynolds' claims.

A spokesman for the club's supporters association said: "These games are always passionate affair and comments like that don't help.

"It's wrong to say Victoria Park is not a safe place to go and watch football. I think he is going over the top a little bit when he says he is scared to come back. And if there wasn't any trouble at the second leg why were we ducking out of the way of coins thrown by the Darlington fans when they ran on the pitch at the end of the game?'