DARLINGTON FC is set to receive a £75,000 windfall from a Premier League club.

The non-league club is in line for the pay-out after their former player, Dan Burn, made his first-team debut for Fulham on Saturday.

The appearance during the FA Cup third round 1-1 draw with Norwich triggered a clause in a contract negotiated by Darlington when they sold the player for about £350,000 in 2011.

Fulham will now have to pay £75,000 because he was named in the first team squad for the game and a further £75,000 because he got on the pitch.

A deal agreed when Darlington FC was bought by fans from the administrator in 2012 means the club will get half the £150,000 and the rest will go to creditors of the old company, Darlington FC 2009.

The payment is being arranged by Harvey Madden, the Yarm administrator who handled the sale of the club.

He said: “I can confirm that Dan Burn’s appearance in the FA Cup did trigger the first payment to Darlington FC 2009.

“It was agreed that there would be a 50/50 split with Darlington 1883. I have already invoiced Fulham and would expect Darlington FC to invoice me for their half.

“It’s a real fillip for the club.”

Mr Madden said he was checking the terms of the contract to find out when future payments could be expected, if the player remained in the Fulham first-team.

Although Burn signed for the Premier League club in 2011, the defender was loaned out to Yeovil Town last season and Championship team Birmingham City this year.

Martin Jesper, Darlington FC chief executive, said he was restricted on what he could say about the clause, but stressed that any payments from Fulham did not detract from the need to continue raising money.

Last month, the club launched an investment scheme with the aim raising at least £50,000 to stabilise the club’s finances.

The campaign is running alongside a separate drive to pay for the proposed move to Blackwell Meadows, where it will share the ground with Darlington Rugby Club.

Run by Darlington FC Community Interest Company, this scheme has a target of £75,000.