Darlington Football Club chef in fight for his wages

Jan 31 2010 by Liz Walker, Sunday Sun

Former owner George Houghton put Darlington into administration in February last year, overwhelmed by debts approaching £5m.

Teesside care home entrepreneur and former club vice chairman Raj Singh’s take over of League Two team Darlington was completed the day before the new season kicked-off.

Administrators Brackenbury Clark and Co said at the time that without redundancies and wage deferrals by players and staff, the club would have folded.

Mr Singh denied the new club is responsible for the wages, but told the Sunday Sun he sympathised with Mr Rowntree and offered a donation as a goodwill gesture.

He said: “Mr Rowntree has every right to his outstanding money and we’d encourage him to pursue this from the administrators, who are legally liable.

“On a personal level, I sympathise with this situation and acknowledge the difficult time Mr Rowntree and his family have had.

“Our donation is purely a goodwill gesture to assist Mr Rowntree and we sincerely hope it helps.

“At the same time, it is not in any way a payment of any outstanding money owed to him.”

But lawyers for the former club’s administrators, Brackenbury, Clark and Co, insist liability for Mr Rowntree’s wages lies with the new club.

A spokesman for solicitors Walker Morris said: “The position in the sale agreement is that the buyer of the club took on the responsibilities for deferred payments of employees. My clients have no liability.”