Football club reveals £2m debts

A fundraising game is being held at the Reynolds Arena

The extent of the financial problems facing Darlington Football Club have been revealed.

A creditors meeting at the town's Reynolds Arena estimated the club's liabilities to be around £2m.

The administrator running the club, David Field, said a celebrity match at the arena on Sunday was vital to keep the struggling Third Division club alive through February.

He said: "The players and all staff were paid up until the end of December, although they were paid late.

"Their next wages are due at end of January and we are hopeful that we will generate sufficient income from the charity game on Sunday and from next home game the following Saturday to be able to pay everyone in full."

Former club chairman George Reynolds resigned earlier this month.

He called in administrators in December last year amid club debts of about £1m, and to avert a winding-up order from the Inland Revenue.

Since then, a consortium of local business leaders and supporters has said it is trying to raise money to help bail the club out.