FOOTBALL chairman George Reynolds has announced that building work is to begin immediately on Darlington's controversial multi-million pound football stadium after a deal was completed over the weekend.

The agreement to hand over the cash for the Neasham Road site is expected to pacify the growing number of doubters among the fans concerned over the seeming lack of progress on the stadium.

The wealthy chairman announced the deal to fans on Saturday during the match with Barnet, and hailed the development as a prosperous new dawn for the club, which little over a year ago was staring bankruptcy in the face.

But protestors opposed to the 25,000-seat stadium, including travellers families who have threatened to take the case to the European Court of Human Rights, insisted last night that they would keep up the fight against the controversial development.

Jan Mazurk, of the Neasham Road Action Group, said: "We are still pushing for a judicial review which could stop this in its tracks while the matter is heard in court.

"We'd have welcomed a hospital or housing on that site - anything but 25,000 people coming past our front doors."

But, in an official announcement expected at noon today, Darlington Borough Council will confirm that its land in Neasham Road has been signed sealed and delivered to George Reynolds.

"It has been a long haul, but we have got there in the end. It has cost me around a £1m to secure the site and it has been worth every penny," said Mr Reynolds. "We expect the construction to take about 15 months, and once completed the sky's the limit for Darlington."

With everything done, the chairman promised residents who have opposed the development that he would ensure there would be as little disruption as possible.

He added: "I am really excited about this and that everything has finally been sorted."