Nationwide League: Reynolds offer to crisis club York

Darlington chairman George Reynolds has put a trio of proposals on the table to help their crisis-hit neighbours York City.

After hearing of their fight for survival, Reynolds decided to offer York a lifeline by making the offer.

York chairman Douglas Craig has put the cash-strapped club and their ground up for sale for £4.5million and has warned they will have to withdraw from the Football League if a buyer is not found by the end of March.

Despite the club being just one point and one place off the foot of the Third Division, and the dilapidated nature of the ground, there are buyers interested in coming to York’s rescue.

One option which has been put forward for any would-be owners could be to move the club to Huntington Stadium, home to the city’s rugby league side, York Wasps.

However, that ground does not meet Football League standards and would need improvements if York were to be allowed to play first-team matches there.

The Quakers, meanwhile, are set to move to a new 25,000 all-seater site at Neasham Road in Darlington for the start of next season.

And Reynolds claims should York switch to the Huntington Stadium, he would be prepared to sell them the fixtures and fittings at the Quakers’ current home, Feethams, for £800,000 rather than the

original asking price of £1million.

Reynolds would ask for £400,000 as a down payment with the rest being paid, interest free, over two years.

If the move to the stadium fell through, Reynolds would then offer Feethams as a venue for York to play their matches free of charge until they managed to relocate to a new home.

But if all else fails, and City were forced to fold, Reynolds has invited York fans to Darlington’s new ground next season.

Reynolds maintains York fans would be welcomed at the brand new stadium with open arms and reduced admission.

Tickets would be sold at £5 a seat, with 500 seats given up free to help with travel costs from York to Darlington.

Reynolds said: ‘‘I personally have nothing to gain from these proposals. I am doing it because I don’t like to see any club go under and I want to help.

‘‘I have left the proposals with the people at York for them to react as they want to.

‘‘They can be left on the shelf for a while until they get themselves sorted out and come back to me as and when.

‘‘At the end of the day, if York does fold, then their supporters will have two options of watching football.

‘‘They could pay £28 for a ticket to watch Leeds or take advantage of our cheap tickets and a good rail link and come and watch us.

‘‘We will have a brand new stadium with good facilities and we would gladly welcome York fans.’’