Pools offer Darlo help

Hartlepool have put rivalry to one side by offering to play a fund-raising friendly against Darlington and lend their cash-strapped neighbours some loan players.

Darlington fought off liquidation, albeit temporarily, at the last minute to enable Saturday's game with Fleetwood to go ahead and Pools are ready to stage a game at the Northern Echo Arena during the first week of February, from which the Quakers can keep all the revenue.

Pools chief executive Russ Green told the club's official website: "We'd be delighted to send a team over there and play a friendly to hopefully help them raise some funds.

"Clearly we have a great rivalry on the pitch with Darlington, but I think that rivalry is healthy in sport, so there is no way we want to see them struggling or going out of business.

"We just thought it would be a nice gesture to offer to send a squad over there and hopefully the game will attract a good crowd."

However, Pools' offer to allow some fringe players to join Darlington on loan will not be permitted under Blue Square Bet Premier regulations.