THE Quakers have launched an urgent campaign to raise at least £225,000 to fund the club's return to Darlington.

It hopes the bulk of the money will be generated by the sale of up to 500 five-year season tickets.

Bosses unveiled the campaign at a fans' forum on Thursday evening, when it was also announced that Darlington Building Society has renewed its support of the club by becoming a corporate partner.

Work on Darlington RFC's Blackwell Meadows ground is due to begin in May to allow the two clubs to share the facilities from the start of the 2015-16 season.

The Quakers have applied to the Football Stadia Improvement Fund (FSIF) for a £150,000 grant towards the work, however this money must be matched by the club as soon as possible to ensure the application is successful.

The money would be used to pay for improvements such as new seating, a stand, turnstiles, toilets and fencing.

A minimum target of £225,000 has been set for a 1,900-capacity stadium with 225 seats which meets FA Category C requirements, but club bosses have stressed that £300,000 could allow the club to build a 3,000-capacity ground.

Speaking ahead of a fans' forum, Martin Jesper, Darlington FC chief executive, said the club needed the money before the end of the month.

He stressed the launch of the campaign had to wait until Darlington Borough Council's cabinet gave its backing to the improvements at a cabinet meeting on Tuesday.

"Now is the time for the fans to take the club on to the next level - we're now heading home so let's make this happen," he added.

Mr Jesper announced that Darlington Building Society, which sponsored the team for 13 years before the club went into administration in 2012, had agreed to support the club again by becoming a "significant corporate partner".

"This commitment from Darlington Building Society is a huge message to the fans that behind the scenes we are in good shape - the club has been rescued, it was stabilised and now it is time to grow."

Director Dave Mills added: "We have to stress that we have a very short time span in which to raise this money.

"If fans want to be playing back home at the starts of the 2015/16 season they need to act now."

Fans joining the DFC500 Club and buying a five-year season ticket will pay the same price as five 2014/15 season tickets.

As part of the scheme, 90 five-year adult seated tickets will be issued at a cost of £1,175 each. 280 standing tickets will go on sale for £875 each.

Concession seating tickets will cost £750, while concession standing tickets will be £500.

DFC500 Club members will benefit from various perks, including a complimentary child's season ticket for one year and discounts on merchandise.

Other fundraising initiatives have been unveiled, including an equity scheme giving supporters the chance to buy shares in the club, a vice-presidents' club which offers enhanced benefits, and new packages for corporate partners.

Half year results published by the club show revenue has increased by 22 per cent in the six months to December 31, 2014 compared to the same period the previous year.

Operating costs also rose by 24 per cent, however the structured debts, the majority of which is Tupe payments to former players, dropped from £113,600 to £44,100.

The club will launch a new website at midnight tonight where fans can buy the five-year season tickets and sign up to the other schemes.

Visit www.darlingtonfootballclub.co.uk for details.