THE former home of Darlington Football Club is to be demolished, it was announced last night, sparking fresh controversy about its future use.

Bulldozers are expected to roll onto the Feethams site before Easter, bringing an end to its 140-year heritage.

The club played at Feethams until 2003, when it moved to its new stadium in Neasham Road during George Reynolds' reign as chairman.

Darlington Borough Council said it had no choice but to serve the demolition notice in the coming days after several site inspections showed the stadium to be unsafe.

Speculation has mounted in recent months about what will happen to the town centre site and yesterday's announcement is certain to lead to renewed debate and a possible legal battle over what happens next.

Feethams was built in 1866. It was bought by Edmund Backhouse and Sir ED Walker, president of Darlington Cricket Club, in 1903 and placed in the ownership of a private perpetual trust.

The trust's deed of foundation dictates that it must be used for the playing of cricket or any other sport authorised by the cricket club, but a caveat allows part of the ground to be sold.

The land does not have residential permission, but a Darlington Borough Council spokesman said there was nothing to stop an application being submitted.

If it was sold for executive housing it could be worth millions, but Darlington Cricket Field Trust, which owns the site, said the land had not yet been bought or earmarked, and no decisions had been made.

The cricket club refused to be drawn on what it planned to do.

However, Darlington Football Club Supporters Trust branded the announcement as "a very sad day for the town," and vowed to fight to ensure the site continued to be used for sport.

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