NOTHING is ever quite as straightforward as it may seem when it comes to Darlington Football Club.

Reports yesterday that Raj Singh had become the Quakers’ new owner proved to be premature. An agreement is close, but there is still work to be done before Mr Singh and former chairman George Houghton have a deal.

It is impossible to be confident until the ink is dry, but we welcome this apparent progress in the saga of Darlington’s untimely administration.

Fans appeared to be facing a stark choice between Mr Houghton retaining control – or the club going to the wall. To many, it was an unpalatable choice, but one that had to be made.

This has been a long game of brinkmanship, with Mr Houghton and Mr Singh understandably trying to get the best possible deal.

We hope that the game is finally reaching a conclusion which will give the club a secure future.

On his own, Mr Houghton would have faced a difficult challenge in rebuilding the strained relationship with the supporters.

In partnership with Mr Singh, the bridge-building will be an easier task because the supporters see the Teesside care home millionaire as a successful businessman who appears to have a genuine interest in the football side of the club.

Regaining the confidence of local businesses, which have again lost money as a result of providing services to Darlington Football Club, is quite another matter.

Our sympathies are with them as the Quakers move towards the latest era in the club’s turbulent recent history.