Darlington chairman Raj Singh has launched a blistering attack on the club's players, former manager Mark Cooper and revealed the club could fall into administration for a third time.

The Northern Echo revealed yesterday that he wants to renegotiate players' contracts, and Singh says unless the squad comply with his request then Quakers' future will be in jeopardy.

But it is not only the players who, he says, are putting the club at risk. Cooper and his former assistant, Richard Dryden, want their contracts paying up in full, something that Singh says would push the club to the brink.

He said: “If Cooper and Dryden maintain their current position, and the players aren't prepared to take a cut in wages or negotiate sensible settlements, then they are going to put this club back into administration themselves.

“They'll end up with nothing, the club will be back where it was a little under three years ago and, this time, there'll be no coming back.”

Darlington Borough Council also come underfire in his programme notes for today's game with AFC Telford.

“The council still have a huge part to play in all of this. They indicated to me when they jumped on the FA Trophy bandwagon earlier this year that they could relax the covenants, which would make life a whole lot easier for the football club, but despite giving them several options over the last few months, they remain unhelpful.

“In fact, in the three years I've been involved with this club, despite attempting to make the right noises with PR-spun statements, they haven't lifted a finger to help.”

Singh also added: “Unless I can negotiate reduced wages with some of the players and a settlement with Cooper and Dryden and start making progress with the council, I will seriously need to consider my position again.”