Corporate director John Tempest wrote this column for the Nantwich programme. However, the game was postponed, and because its current relevance, it has been reproduced on the official website

In my notes today, I’d like to thank everyone who has come up to me and wished me well since I took over from Dave Mills a month ago. Your support is very much appreciated. We’re steadily building now from within; we’re putting teams in place to look at various strategies to help us attract more sponsorship and build community links for example. We have had offers of help from several people which are very much appreciated, and I’m sure that their expertise will be utilized in the fullness of time. We are working on a few ideas at the moment, and there are plenty more to come, but it’s a matter of prioritizing. Our volunteers will continue to work hard for the club, so please give them your support.

I mentioned in my notes on Tuesday that the fundraising initiative will be announced very soon, and we will organize a fans’ forum to explain and launch it. Please give it as much support as you can, as we prepare for our return to Darlington.

I must also thank everyone for the terrific support that they gave the players in the Salford match. The vast majority of our supporters were very well-behaved; however on Wednesday the club found it necessary to make an official statement regarding the lighting-up of a flare, some coin-throwing and a pitch invasion, all of which have been reported by the referee.

While football is very much of an emotional game – and goodness knows Tuesday night was a case in point –the behaviour of some individuals was very much unnecessary and has caused Darlington FC some embarrassment, which is a pity in the light of that tremendous win.

There was a pyrotechnic incident, a coin thrown and a fan encroaching on the playing area, all of which are against the ground regulations which are approved by the FA and the League.

We should be very clear. Those responsible simply do not care about our club, our reputation or the safety of our fans and we do not want them at our matches. The club will be reviewing its CCTV and working with the stewards and police to ensure that this matter is addressed and the individuals will be banned from future matches.

If anyone has information that will help us trace the individuals responsible, then please approach a club official or e mail us on commercial@darlingtonfc.org. Information will be treated in the strictest confidence.

Ensuring the safety of our supporters and staff is always of paramount importance to Darlington FC 1883. If such behaviour was to continue, the reality is it would only be a matter of time before serious injury is caused and the club in turn would be severely punished by the league and or the FA. We will not allow safety to be compromised by the actions of a tiny minority.

I know from personal experience that the vast majority of Darlington fans are of impeccable character, and it is to those people that I say thank you for your continuing support as we approach an exciting time in our history.