Source: Northern_Echo
Singh aims to ease the fans suffering
FEW sets of football supporters can have suffered so much as those who follow Darlington have in 2009.
First denied what appeared a good chance of promotion and then dragged through the uncertainty of administration, Quakers were relieved simply to still exist when the season kicked-off in August.
But few could have predicted that two months on they would still be awaiting a first league win of the campaign.
At home to Macclesfield Town today, supporters hope to see Darlington record that elusive first victory – at the 11th attempt.
But they at least have a chairman and owner who empathises because Raj Singh knows a thing or too about following a club on its knees.
The Teessider vividly remembers the dark days when Middlesbrough came so close to folding in the mid-80s but, like Darlington this summer, Boro survived their brush with extinction.
Singh uses Middlesbrough as an example of what can be achieved.
He said: “I’ve been going to Middlesbrough games since 1978 so I think I can see things from a fans’ point of view because I’ve been there myself.
“I was there in 1986 when they locked the gates and was gutted, along with everyone else, when it looked like they were going out of business.
“I wasn’t there for the Port Vale game on the first day of the season, when they played at Hartlepool, but there were only 3,700 there that day. Can you imagine what would have happened to Middlesbrough if they hadn’t gone up that year?
“Darlington are in a similar position, so it just shows you that it can be done.”
Singh has since switched allegiance, from red and white to black and white, originally joining at the beginning of last season as vice-chairman.
That was on the invitation of then chairman George Houghton, and Singh recalled: “We’d done a couple of deals on care homes.
“He’s into care homes and so am I, so that’s how we got to know each other.
“When he first said he was going to take over the club he did mention it to me. I said to him ‘George, what do you know about football!’ “I think he kept that in mind, so when things weren’t going right he got me involved.”
Now he is very much involved.
After Houghton plunged the club into administration in February, Singh saved the Quakers by becoming owner this summer and now finds himself taking an interest in every aspect of the club.
“I am quite hands-on,” he explained. “We have regular meetings where we talk about everything, from car parking to everything else all the way up. It’s in your mind all the time. You’ve got staff doing the day-to-day running of the club, but it’s definitely on your mind.
“You’ll be at home having a cup of tea and wondering who the next manager is going to be, or what the crowd is going to be for the next home game.”
Singh intends to begin interviewing candidates for the manager’s job next week with ex-Republic of Ireland international Steve Staunton among those to have applied.
Also keen on the job is ex- Boro defender Alan Kernaghan who has managed Clyde and Dundee.
Singh is looking for a successor to Colin Todd who paid the price for the pitiful start to the season.
So it is ironic that when Singh is asked to recall one of his favourite memories of following Middlesbrough, he chooses the club’s first appearance at Wembley – when Todd was manager.
He said: “I remember, in 1990, the Zenith Data Systems final and Middlesbrough expected the whole world to know that they had got to Wembley, but nobody apart from them and Chelsea fans knew about it!
“It wasn’t a big cup so they were disgusted that they didn’t get loads of coverage on television.
“My loyalty now is with Darlington.
“I always used to wonder how does a player feel when he has been with a club for a long time at youth level but then joins a different team – and I’m in a similar position now, coming to Darlington from Middlesbrough.
“I remember there was a home game last season and I was told that Middlesbrough had taken the lead at Liverpool, but I wasn’t that bothered because it was still 0-0 and I was wanting Darlington to score!”
Singh’s interest in football makes him almost unique among Darlington chairman of recent years, given that some of his predecessors were new to the game when they took up their position in the boardroom.
He hopes his passion will give him an edge as he bids to lead Quakers to better times.
“At this club there have been a lot of promises made in the past without really understanding football,” he said.
“I’m not saying I’m an expert in football, but I think it does help when you’ve watched the game all your life.
“I saw the potential at Darlington – I’ve used that word potential a few times now – because of the stadium and what can be done here. I genuinely feel I can make a difference.
“I will stay here as long as the fans want me here and as long as I’m enjoying it. It’s not financial gain that I am looking for, I’m here for football reasons – whether that be five years or 15 years I don’t know.”
■ The Darlington Supporters Club have places available on their coaches travelling to Leeds and Dagenham.
Cost of travel to Leeds on Tuesday is £10, departing at 5.30pm, while the coach to Dagenham next weekend leaves at 8am and costs £31.
To book a place see a committee member today in the Corner Bar.
