BY all accounts, last night's civic reception for Darlington Football Club was a great success.

Sadly, I was stuck on a train coming back from London, so I only managed to catch the end of the proceedings.

The great turnout shows that Darlington does care about its football club after all, so well done to everyone who made the effort.

Credit also goes to Darlington Borough Council for organising such a excellent celebration in such a short space of time.

The only disappointing note was the timing of the announcement that goal-scoring hero Chris Senior is being released by the club.

I appreciate tough decisions like these have to be made - but did he have to be told so close to the civic reception?

Why not let the lad have his moment of glory - and then give him the bad news?