Newton Aycliffe will be welcoming Darlington to Moore Lane Park this season, after the Quakers’ appeal to the FA was rejected.
Not only will the club be playing in the Northern League this campaign, they will be unable to be referred to as Darlington FC and will not be entering either the FA Cup or the FA Vase.
Denis Pinnegar, 1883 Ltd Chairman said: “This is not the outcome that either the fans or the interim board wanted, but at least we now know where we are and what needs done to get this club back to where it belongs.
“I know there is nothing else that could have been done in order to get the result of the appeal changed, the FA have decided that we are to be viewed as new club and as much as we can challenge that and argue the case we have to now accept that.
“There has been a lot of uncertainty around this club in recent times, and the fans deserve better. Its our job now to work with the fans, get the fans to back the club and get the club back playing in Darlington and at the highest level we can, as soon as we can.”
The club’s manager Martin Gray added: “When I took this role I knew the club had been placed at step five and, as disappointing as this the appeal outcome is, it doesn’t change the fact that we have a job to do and we will do it.”
Darlington will be playing their home games at Bishop Auckland’s Heritage Park. They host Newton Aycliffe on Tuesday September 11, while Moore Lane Park welcomes Darlo on Saturday December 8.
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