Quakers

Quakers supremo George Reynolds announced that construction firm Taylor Woodrow will no longer be building the new £15m stadium on Neasham Road.

He cited differences over how the project should develop for the parting of the ways and said he now planned to appoint a management team to organise the construction of the new ground.

The news has been welcomed by the Neasham Road Action Group, which is campaigning against the building of the stadium.

Members hope it will result in a further delay, although Mr Reynolds has assured Darlington supporters that the new stadium will be built.

Work on diverting drains on the Neasham Road site got under way yesterday, with Mr Reynolds maintaining there will be no delays or additional costs.

Mr Reynolds said: "It has been decided that Darlington Football Club and Taylor Woodrow would not now be working together on the stadium project.

"Taylor Woodrow wanted to do the project one way while I wanted to do it in another. We could not reach an agreement so we amicably decided to part company."

"We will be using the drawings provided by Taylor Woodrow, which we have paid for and are now ours."

Taylor Woodrow declined to comment last night, but Marcus Nimmo, spokesman for the Neasham Road Action Group, said the news had given the protestors a glimmer of hope.

"We are delighted at anything which may delay this stadium being built," he said.

"The action group is still pursuing human rights issues in relation to the development, and this 11th hour parting of the ways has given us fresh hope."

The stadium development has been dogged by controversy since Mr Reynolds announced plans to move Darlington FC away from its Feethams ground last year.