Talks over future of football club

The new Reynold's Arena has a capacity of 27,500

Council bosses have agreed to meet legal advisers over the future of Darlington Football Club, which has gone into administration.

Club chairman George Reynolds revealed on Tuesday that the club went into administration to protect it from being wound up by the Inland Revenue.

Mr Reynolds blamed the demise of ITV Digital and Darlington Borough Council for the financial plight of a new £25m stadium, opened earlier this year.

He has been locked in a legal battle with council bosses over alternative uses for the stadium.

He wants to use the 27,000 capacity Reynolds Arena for concerts, car boot sales and computer fairs, but has been refused permission by the council.

'Every assistance'

The move comes just months after the club unveiled a new £25m stadium and with the team

Insolvency practitioners Wilson Field have taken over the running of the 120-year-old club, which is languishing just one place off the bottom of the Third Division.

Representatives of the firm are due to meet council officials on 30 December to discuss the club's plight.

A council spokesman said officials would attempt to find a solution to the club's situation.

Mr Reynolds said: "I will provide every assistance to ensure the future well being of the club.

"Whilst the administrators resolve the footballing issues, I will endeavour to develop other commercial interests for the benefit of the club."

Computer fairs

Mr Reynolds said the stadium needed to be used for other uses to make the venue viable.

He added: "I've built a magnificent stadium, but we cannot sustain this stadium on 12 working hours a month.

"Television money has gone and the gates are not very good, so we wanted to host computer fairs and car boot sales.

"The council have to allow us to make money.

"The club will survive if the council allow us to work more than 12 hours a month.

"I have been telling them for the past four months that we would end up in trouble if we were not given any help."