Forgive the copy and paste but didn't think you would want to read the whole thread.

But this post makes interesting reading. Just read the large pring part of the post, that's the interesting bit

Fair enough comment, Stan Webb's Ghost. I don't go now, you do. Don't know if it was possible at the time but a manager used to operating on a particular budget would have been preferential. I think someone commented on this and mentioned Stan Ternent. I'm not having a go at Raj Singh as I don't know much about him and he has had to pick up the carnage that is Darlington FC when nobody else was that interested. I do not apportion any blame on Raj and if he has made mistakes employing people then give him some slack - we all make mistakes at some point but because of the club's precarious predicament it means everything he does is analysed to death. It's not like he has years of experience - if the likes of Brealey, Morgon and Peden really cared about Darlington FC then where are they today?

From my connections at Middlesbrough FC, Graham Fordy has an excellent reputation but I feel sorry for him because the situation is so voilatile he is having to contend with 15 years of financial skulduggery that not even Richard Branson could turn round in such a short space of time.

One of the biggest problems over the years has been a lack of continuity off the pitch and I remember this time last year the club's commercial rep appeared on BBC Radio Tees promising a bright new future, one of many promised over the years, and then two months later club was in Admin.

If Hodgson did invest in the club staff then perhaps you should dig deeper and ask who stands to benefit from the sale of Feethams to a proposed housing development by Brian Johnson and his cronies at the Cricket Club? I think you will find Hodgson won't exactly lose out financially but you believe what you want lads, I know a completely different side to the public face of Hodgson and that's partly why the club is in such a financial mess that it is. Remember the Hartlepool game where they looked like they were going to be relegated and Joe Allon scored an injury time winner? A mate of mine spoke to Hodgson a couple of weeks before the game as his company were sponsoring a match at Hartlepool and he said at the time we will put a team out that loses that match because its important to the north east. I wrote to Hodgson personally and actually put in the letter that I didn't want to see Allon coming on as a sub and scoring their winner with virtually the last kick of the match. Remember Gary Twynam considered a needless corner and Allon came on and the ball came over and was like a bagatelle in our penalty area? Hodgson had decided in his infinite wisdom to give a debut in goal to a young lad from Everton called James Speare. What sort of manager would make that decision in such an important game as that? If ever there was a script this was it because that's what exactly happened - you couldn't make it up. Afterwards when I broached the subject Hodgson denied all knowledge of such a conversation but I know whom I trust more - and it certainly wouldn't be Hodgson.


Like I said chancers and schemers masquerading as managers and owners who cared little for the long term viability of Darlington FC. Even though I no longer go people who do keep in touch and I will be honest I've been asked if I would come back but I simply cannot because of work commitments (I work two weekends out of four) and, like many others, I have domestic commitments too.

The Mark Meynell-fronted business plan at the time Reynolds was looking to bail out was the preferred option as he had half a dozen local businessmen all interested in putting in six-figure sums to stabalise the club financially. I have known Mark for many years and although we often disagree on many things this was a sound plan that would have guaranteed the club's immediate future and provided stability. It would NOT have guaranteed promotion or the play-offs but was based on the club's average attendances at the time (3/3,500). What's more with the contacts from the six people it would have had a knock-on effect on other people they knew supporting the club. I do believe that the mistrust and anger has grown ever deeper and that for many fans they didn't wish to be involved in the politics of the club, I understand that, but you were all taken for a ride; whether it be the product on the pitch or the far reaching consequences of events off it.

As it stands - and I take no pleasure in saying this - it never happened and the rest is history.


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Just checked a few facts, TWYNHAM, who he claims give away the un-necessary penalty was in fact an 81st minute sub. ALLON came on in 83rd.

Not saying it's true, but with those two subs so close together it does give thought to a conspiracy theory.

The goalkeeper Speare played 2 games for Darlo between 25/03 and 31/05 1997

Between then and now a period of 12 years he has made a further 12 league appearances

i have to disagree, i don't find any of that interesting

Plus it sounds like total and utter bollocks, how would you contrive that situation?? So a player was sent on to concede a corner and it had been arranged that a player who had been sent on to score, would. Righty ho!

If Hodgson was that clever he'd have at least a promotion on his CV, it sounds like a Loid who couldn't accept they were beaten fairly to by Pools to me.

What a load of shite

Total crock of sh*t.

I don't I believe it, as some point out it would be difficult to arrange, just meant, and probably badly put by me that someone had bothered to post it. The conspiracy theory was meant that with the subs put on at the time they were then he had "ammo" for his post. He probably had some sort of grudge for while and finally had a reason to post his so called conversation between his "mate" and Hodgson.

I seem to remember Mick Tait saying after the match, that in the heat of the moment he had forgotten to get Joe Allon on, and he only came on because Paul Baker (I think) prompted him to do it.

Was a grassy knoll involved in this conspiracy, sounds familiar somehow?

I can believe Hodgy wanted you lot to stay up, but the rest of it.......bollox!!! Speare played in goal a week earlier against Mansfield and was gash then but we had no other fit keepers at the time.

Almost as bad as the play off letter conspiracy? Thats got to be a bigger load of bollocks!!

i agree with you there

No, but in a letter I wrote to Hodgson before the match, I asked if it was true that he'd be playing Grassy Knollington and Machiavelli in the team where they would 'arrange things' . Sadly, as I mistakenly sent it to Hodgsons Fish Merchants in Whitby Street, I found out nowt, but got an offer on a box of Haddock.