Good evening everyone, we'll be starting soon.

Don't forget that you can mail your questions to commercial@dfc1883.co.uk, don't forget to put your name on. We'll be answering questions until around 9/9,15pm.

I'm helping Dave host this (Ray Simpson)

1. First question is on the way from Roland Ridley in Clearwater Beach Florida (been on holiday there Roland, great place)

Darlington’s return to playing at home seems to be taking forever to achieve.

I don't know how long the talks have been going on with the rugby club, could you tell me what the stumbling blocks are If and when you do come home will there be problems with the playing surface, from what I see the pitches get very, very badly cut up after rugby games.

Ronald Ridley, Clearwater Florida

Thanks for the question Roland.

Discussions and negotiations have been ongoing with Darlington Rugby Football Club for many months and more recently the two clubs have made significant progress towards the necessary agreements.

Pitch care and maintenance has been discussed in order to prevent the ‘cutting up’ of the playing surface and it is the view of both clubs that thorough preparation of the playing surface and a coordinated approach by both Clubs’ ground staff to planned maintenance, we can maintain a suitable quality of playing surface throughout the season.

2 .My question is what sort of crowd numbers are the board anticipating when the club finally return to Darlington?

Adam Cattell, Brisbane, Australia

Thanks for the question Adam

We all know that the average attendance at home matches whilst playing at Bishop Auckland has decreased each season for the last three seasons. However, it is anticipated that we can expect in excess of 500 more supporters at our home games when we return to Darlington.

3.I have a question re the ineligible player/possible points deduction situation.

If the league impose a punishment deemed to be unfair (in my view-anything more than a 3 point penalty). Will the club appeal or take legal action? Will the club fight against any possible O.T.T. punishment?

As an after-thought, to me the situation seems to have come about by a genuine mistake partly caused by some ridiculous rules. A draconian punishment would never happen to any of the 92 league clubs, so why might it happen to us?

Maurice Paton.

Thanks for the question Maurice

DFC fully accept that a player participated in several fixtures when he was not eligible to do so. It should be made clear that Darlington sought to gain no competitive advantage, either financial or footballing, from signing and playing the player. This situation has arisen due to the anomalous nature of a “foreign” club playing in the English league system, and is merely an administrative error on the part of the club failing to recognise or realise that an ITC should be sought. The Club will carefully consider any punishment given to it and then decide if any further action is appropriate.

4

4

Can we get AGMs & Forums on home game weekends, to encourage exiles at game/meeting?

Neil Johnson

Thanks for the question Neil

It’s always difficult to decide the date of an AGM or a Fans’ Forum. I see no reason why a home game weekend cannot be considered. Perhaps Steve Rees, editor of the fans’ newletter Darlo Matters, might consider a poll of supporters to give the Club some idea going forward.

Keep the questions coming folks. Dave is bashing away at the answers.

Remember, please, e mail only about off the field matters commercial@dfc1883.co.uk. Please put your name to the question. It's great that we've received questions already from USA and Australia. Any Darlo fan on holiday in Mauritius or the Seychelles?

5. There was something on the website about wanting applications for non exec board members, are they still looking?

This might already be known so apologies in advance

Michael Cansfield from darlofansradio

Thanks for your question Michael

As I mentioned at the recent AGM and again at last week’s Fans’ Forum, the Board of Darlington 1883 Ltd are always available to speak with anyone with a particular skill set which complements those already across the Board and has a little time to give. I’m happy to receive applications at any time from interested and suitably skilled individuals.

[caption id="attachment_14512" align="alignnone" width="300"] Gary Brown in goal at Lancaster[/caption]

6.

One of the things frequently mentioned in regards to the club playing in darlo is the anticpated interest from local businesses and an increase in revenue from commercial activities - sponsorship, advertising etc.

Is this just an assumption or is there real evidence to back it up - obviously you cannot discuss commercially sensitive and confidential issues, but are you confident there are local businesses interested and the increased revenue from them will materialise.

best wishes - Steve Stringer-Calvert

Thanks for the question Steve

There is undoubted interest from Darlington’s business community in the football club. Of course, to maximise these opportunities the club needs to be back playing in Darlington. I attend the network meetings of several Darlington based business clubs and the club is making commercial relationships all the time, in preparation for the return to the town. I’m confident the commercial activities will increase, bringing additional revenue in the club, in the near future.

Great questions so far, please keep them coming.

7.

Can you confirm that as Martin Gray has stated Alan White’s links with the club will be severed now. Indiscipline has cost the club dearly (both in terms of finance and progression) Now is the time for the club to take a lead. Your comments on this please.

David Moyes, Darlington

Thanks for the question David

The Club has to consider all situations on their merit and Alan White is no different. The Board of Directors are in constant communication with team manager Martin Gray and information on any developments will be made in due course.

8.We'd all love to see the club win promotion at the end of this season. It's possible that any deal with the rugby club wouldn't be completed in time for the start of next season. Heritage Park (to my understanding) isn't graded suitable for the league above.

Do the club have contingency plans with regards to ground arrangements we do gain promotion? i.e. could we expect a dispensation from the league ? Heritage Park to be ungraded etc.

Dean Blackbourn

Thanks for the question Dean

This is a situation which receives constant consideration, particularly due to our current position in the league and our recent promotion history. The Ground Grading regulations can be found on the FA’s website and the criteria at each level are clear. There are no dispensations other than upgrades can be completed during the season a club is playing at the higher ground grading regs. Hope this helps.

Just a reminder while Dave works on his next answer that Quaker Retail will be open for late night shopping on Thursday 25th November, the night when Darlo's Xmas lights are turned on. There could even be a book signing.

9 How will DRFC bar takings and ground advertising income be apportioned?

Neil Johnson

Thanks for your question Neil

This level of information is commercially sensitive at this moment in time and I am unable to divulge details in ongoing confidential discussions

Dave has just been asked a really good question that he's working through at the moment.

10. Which is most important this season: returning to Darlington or Promotion?

Mark Oliver

Thanks for the question Mark

This is a great question Mark. The Board of Directors has worked so hard since 2012, as custodians of the fans’ money, to repair the damage to the DFC brand in the years before 2012.

The club must now sustain this development and do everything in its power to return it to its home town as soon as possible. The progress made, particularly in recent weeks, has been significant towards this goal. If the Club goes on and achieves another promotion too, that would be great.

11.Hi Dave .someone told me .something great is gonna happen in 6 months that will change for the better . What happened too this guy with £20m.

Kev McGuckin

Thanks for your question Kev.

The only thing I can say in answer to this question Kev is please refer to the article published in the Northern Echo several weeks ago.

Question coming up about water mains.

11 How restrictive will the water main be to future expansion plans should BM go ahead?

Will re-movable seating/terracing be allowed or will no structures be permitted?

Is this issue going to hold back the long term development of a ground up to league specifications?

David Sowerby

Thanks for the question David

The water main isn’t restrictive in terms of expanding the seated stand in order to satisfy ground grading for professional league football. Standing capacity can also be increased in the fullness of time without major issues.

Couple of questions remaining.

12 Can you confirm that the plan is to not share a pitch with the rugby club if the ‘back to darlo’ plan comes to fruition.

I along with other Darlo 1883 supporters are concerned that the pitch will not be able withstand the constant use from both rugby and football week in week out

Roy Elliott

Thanks for the question Roy

As I’m sure everyone is aware we are working towards a ground share agreement on the main pitch at Blackwell Meadows. Please also refer to the answer to Q1.

13 Hi Dave,

In terms of success this season, we've exited early from both the FA Cup and FA Trophy, has this been detrimental to your ambitions for the club this season? I think all of us wanted a cup run but with the great start to the season we've had in the league we need to keep fighting near the top to maintain the crowd levels. Promotion again would be fantastic but would the club be in a position to get (Blackwell) up to Grade B by March 2017 should we end up getting into the National League North.

Sam Cooper

Thanks for the question Sam

Exits from the FA Cup and FA Trophy are disappointing, as I’m sure all fans will agree. I agree with you that we need to keep up our league performances and push on to finish as high in the league as possible, and if this gains us another promotion, either automatically or via the play offs, then great. Planning for Ground Grading B has already been granted in the original planning application and the Club would have to consider the extra cost of the upgrade before completion in March 2017.

Regards

Thanks everybody for taking the opportunity to send questions in, we hope our netcafe has given you a chance to ask questions if you were unable to attend the AGM or fans forum.

From Dave and myself, thanks very much, we hope it's been a worthwhile exercise. We seem to have had plenty of interest, so we'll probably have more netcafes in the future.

[caption id="attachment_14503" align="alignnone" width="300"] The "squad"[/caption]