Chairman says new-look Darlington Supporters Trust will work with fans (From Darlington and Stockton Times)

Chairman says new-look Darlington Supporters Trust will work with fans

8:00am Wednesday 6th June 2012 in Sport By Joe Willis, Regional Chief Reporter

FRESH START: Doug Embleton

THE new chairman of Darlington Supporters Trust has pledged to work alongside the community company which now owns the football club.

Trust founder member Doug Embleton said he had offered to lead the board “until it had deserved a new reputation”.

A new board has been formed to run the group after previous officials resigned following criticism and abuse from fans.

Supporters were angry that the trust failed to hand over £40,000 that was raised during a past crisis faced by the club.

Mr Embleton said all current board members were new to the role and the departure en masse of the previous board meant there had been no handover.

Mr Embleton, who was the trust’s first chairman when it launched in 2001, said he had also been a member of the Darlington FC Rescue Group, which initially led the campaign to save the Quakers.

He said he intended to bring his previous experience of the trust, the rescue group and as a supporter for 58 years to help the group start afresh.

He added: “I want to bring that experience to bear in terms of re-galvanising the trust.

“I believe in the concept of the trust 100 per cent and everybody has to separate that from what’s gone on recently.”

Four members have been elected to the board: Neil Raper, secretary and vicechairman; John Tempest, fundraising; Steve Stringer Calvert, treasurer and Paul Taylor, public events.

Three more were co-opted: Doug Embleton, chairman; Mark Adams, membership secretary and Paul Colman.

The chairman said the trust planned to work with Darlington 1883, the fans’ company which bought the Quakers, and ballot members on whether to hand over the £40,000 to the club.

“We’re going to be meeting 1883 to establish a good relationship, but we will ask enough questions to enable us to go to members to tell them what they will get if they put their money in.”

Although no dates have been announced, Mr Embleton said the process would be completed to the timetable being worked to by the owners.

Mr Embleton has been heavily involved in the campaign to bring the Quakers back to Feethams.

However, he said those were his personal views, which he intended to keep separate from the trust.

“I would never ever use an organisation to promote my own views,” he added.