The Football League has confirmed it's stance on clubs going bankrupt to the Devon press.
In a response to the Herald Express FL head of communications John Nagle, when asked about the possibility of both Conference play-off finalists going up, responded that once each division's play-off final had been held that any bankrupt club would not be replaced:
'If Darlington go bust before the end of the League Two Play-Offs (next Saturday, May 23), then Chester City will be reprieved. But if, much more likely, Darlington go under after that date, League Two will start with 23 clubs next season.'
With Chester owner Stephen Vaughan earlier admitting that Darlington's future looks considerably brighter, it is likely that neither scenario will occur. Quakers' former chairman George Houghton approached Vaughan for a second time with a view to investing in the side and has now held clear the air talks with former vice-chair Raj Singh who, it has been revealed, had the only definite bid for the club rejected by the Administrator.
Meanwhile Southampton's future looks no clearer with the Daily Mail reporting that the club cancelled a legends fundraising match to bolster their finances after just 1,500 tickets were sold.