Singh appeals for Quakers faith

Singh is expected to take control at Darlington in the forthcoming weeks

Teesside businessman Raj Singh has appealed to Darlington fans to show their support for the club should his expected takeover take place.

Singh is awaiting a Company Voluntary Arrangement to go through so he can purchase the club and some assets from current chairman George Houghton.

"We're desperate for the fans to get behind this," says Mr Singh.

"We know all too well the empty promises and false dawns which have let our supporters down so badly."

Singh was a member of the board before standing down in February 2009, and admitted mistakes have been made in the past.

And having made two appointments - Graham Fordy as managing director and Andrew Wilson as financial director - the Teesside-born businessman is keen to develop faith and trust with the supporters.

"I'm making no empty promises or wild predictions, my only promise is that this is a real, genuine effort by me and my new team to get Darlington Football Club back on its feet," he said.

Mistakes have been made in the past and the club, and its fans, have suffered for it big-time, so I know I will be on trial until they see tangible evidence the club is progressing forward

Raj Singh

"There's a lot of untangling to do throughout the business to be able to do that. A lot of things are out of place, I'm talking about Premier League standards in a League Two club which were unsustainable and ended up crippling the club.

"That's why things went the way they did and why so many creditors lost out, and we have every sympathy for them. We have to do everything in our power to make sure that never happens again.

"All of that needs addressing and that's why I've appointed experienced business people to look into those areas and address them.

"I'm delighted both Graham (Fordy) and Andy (Wilson) have come on board, on a consultancy basis. They are football people with years of invaluable experience and contacts, which will be of huge benefit to the club as we move forward.

"Everyone knows that season ticket sales are absolutely crucial for the cash flow and for us to plan for the coming season, so we're urging our fans to buy their season tickets as soon as possible to help the club.

"Mistakes have been made in the past and the club, and its fans, have suffered for it big-time, so I know I will be on trial until they see tangible evidence the club is progressing forward. But I know what to expect, I know the challenges we face, and it's a challenge I'm relishing."

Darlington were placed in administration in February, leading to a 10-point penalty which cost the club's promotion bid and resulted in key departures in playing personnel.