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Paul Wildes has pulled out of the deal to save the Quakers - but administrator Harvey Madden continues to explore other options.
Minutes after Mr Wildes announced he had withdrawn his bid, administrator Harvey Madden announced that he was exploring alternatives.
He said he was holding further meetings on Wednesday to “explore other options as a matter of urgency”.
A statement issued by Mr Madden’s company, Taylor Rowlands, said: “Two further parties have shown interest and if the club is to survive he (Mr Madden) quickly needs to find a willing purchaser.”
Mr Madden said he would release a further statement when any progress was made.
Full story in the Northern Echo
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Football fans have raised more than £45,000 in only three weeks to help save Darlington Football Club from liquidation.
Thousands of well-wishers from the North-East and beyond have donated money to help keep the club alive.
Bucket collections at Darlington and Middlesbrough games, which were organised by Darlington Football Club Supporters’ Club, brought in more than £20,000.
The Darlo Uncovered fans’ website has collected more than £17,000 after initially hoping just to buy the players – who were not being paid – “a few sandwiches”.
Schools and colleges have also pulled together to help.
The amounts raised during non-uniform days are still coming in, but the latest total stands at more than £8,500.
The fundraising drive was organised by Paul Bielby, a member of Darlington FC Rescue Group.
He said: “The Darlington schools and colleges and their children and parents who have participated in the Save Darlo mufti day have come together to show a wonderful spirit and pride in maintaining Darlington Football Club’s history.”
Cheques and cash gifts received by The Northern Echo total nearly £1,100, while a dress down day at the Echo’s headquarters in Darlington raised a further £117.
A race night featuring former Darlington FC player Kevan Smith raised £1,500.
The race night was held on Saturday night at the Cleveland Bridge Social Club, in Neasham Road.
Fundraising efforts are continuing, with a signed shirt and gloves from Fulham and former Darlington goalkeeper David Stockdale due to be auctioned on eBay.
Full story in the Northern Echo
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Talks to save Darlington Football Club from liquidation are at an advanced stage, the administrator, Harvey Madden, said today.
Mr Madden said only one potential bidder remained in the race to buy the club and, although discussions were continuing, no suitable bid for the club had yet been submitted.
Full story in the Northern Echo
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The Northern Echo understands that negotiations between former chairman of Darlington FC Raj Singh and prospective purchaser Paul Wildes have broken down, leaving the future of the 128-year-old club hanging by a thread.
Mr Wildes said: “It is fair to say that discussions have broken down, and I am now exploring another option. It is a very sensitive time in the next few hours. The most important thing is that Darlington 1883 still survives at the end of the day.”
Full story in the Northern Echo
It may yet be possible for Wildes to take over the running of the club without coming to an agreement with Singh, the club’s main creditor, in which case the Quakers would be automatically demoted by one division - but the club really could go either way at this point.
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The entrepreneur bidding to save the Quakers from extinction last night outlined his plans to supporters.
Paul Wildes, 35, a Sheffield venture capitalist, plans to invest £300,000 in the club with fans contributing a further £200,000 in return for a 40 per cent share.
He told members of the Darlington Football Club Rescue Group: “I enjoy a business challenge and I do not see a bigger challenge than making the football club successful.”
Under Mr Wildes, the Quakers would continue to rent their 25,000-seater stadium from landlords Philip Scott and Graham Sizer, although there is the option to buy it for £2.1m.
When the club was liquidated by administrator Harvey Madden last Wednesday, the group produced £50,000 to allow it to continue to function until the end of the month. That money runs out on Monday, which is why supporters are being urged to buy tickets for Saturday’s match against York City, as additional funds may yet be needed.
One of the key aspects of Mr Wildes’ plan is for the supporters to own 40 per cent of the club – which will probably mean them selecting two members to sit on a five-man board of directors. The legal footing and practicalities of the fans’ shareholding has yet to be worked out.
“It is not a gimmick,” he said. “What has really struck me over the last week has been the swell of support for the football club by the people of Darlington, and that needs to continue for the club to survive.
“We want the people of the town to feel that the club belongs to them, and I believe that if they feel that, gate receipts will increase and fundraising will increase. Unless you have community involvement, the football club cannot be successful.
“It’s about making sure that people are actively involved.
It’s giving the club back to the people of Darlington – that’s not meant to sound like a cliché, but the involvement will enhance the value of the club as a business.”
Mr Wildes sees fundraising by supporters continuing with the money adding to the stadium’s revenue and being invested in the team. “I want people to feel that they have contributed to the team, to the signing of the new winger who scored on Saturday – that’d be a great feeling,” he said.
Mr Wildes has been seriously interested in the club for a week. He has had conversations with members of the rescue group, Darlington MP Jenny Chapman, as well as the landlords, and he met manager Craig Liddle yesterday afternoon.
It was, though, a surprise when he arrived at Blackwell Grange with Mrs Chapman last night for the rescue group meeting.
The high level of fans’ involvement in Mr Wildes’ plan is in line with the community interest company that Mrs Chapman has floated as one possible method of rescuing the 128-year-old Quakers.
Full story in the Northern Echo
