RAJ SINGH, the former chairman of Darlington when the club crumbled back in 2012, has withdrawn his offer of investment into the Quakers after an online backlash.
The Teesside businessman originally became chairman of Darlo in 2009 and oversaw years of decline, including relegation from the Football League in 2010, before he placed the Quakers into administration midway through the 2011-12 campaign.
The club, who had to start again from Step 5, have battled their way back up to Step 2 and Darlo revealed earlier this week that Singh wanted to be involved once again.
He was proposing an investment of £40,000 to help boost boss Martin Gray’s budget for next season with Singh claiming he had “unfinished business”.
Quakers fans were understandably wary about Singh’s potential involvement in the club, which could have seen him take a 15 per cent shareholding, and he has subsequently withdrawn his offer following online criticism.
Director John Tempest confirmed: “Darlington Football Club would like to announce that Raj Singh has decided to withdraw his interest in investing in the club.
“Raj and his family have spent the last 48 hours viewing various social media platforms and in the light of the very negative comments being made, he and his family feel it is inappropriate to move forward with the possible investment.
“Raj’s initial commitment was to invest in the club, particularly the playing side, and in his words “he felt there was unfinished business”.
“As a consequence of his withdrawal and the reasons for it, a second potential investor has also decided not to continue exploring his potential involvement.
“Although social media can be a very useful tool, it can have very undesirable effects. I’m really not sure what the solution is as people who sit behind keyboards appear to be able to say anything without knowing the facts and not realising the potential impact in public of some ill-thought comments.”
