The Quakers will drop out of the play-off places as a result of their actions.
| 5 | Shrewsbury Town | 33 | 13 | 1 | 3 | 35 | 11 | 1 | 9 | 6 | 12 | 18 | 14 | 10 | 9 | 47 | 29 | 52 | +18 | ||||
| 6 | Bradford City | 32 | 8 | 8 | 1 | 28 | 15 | 6 | 2 | 7 | 22 | 21 | 14 | 10 | 8 | 50 | 36 | 52 | +14 | ||||
| 7 | Exeter City | 32 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 26 | 19 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 20 | 18 | 14 | 9 | 9 | 46 | 37 | 51 | +9 | ||||
| 8 | Gillingham | 32 | 9 | 5 | 3 | 32 | 16 | 5 | 3 | 7 | 14 | 29 | 14 | 8 | 10 | 46 | 45 | 50 | +1 | ||||
| 9 | Dagenham & Redbridge | 33 | 8 | 3 | 5 | 32 | 14 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 24 | 22 | 13 | 9 | 11 | 56 | 36 | 48 | +20 | ||||
| 10 | Morecambe | 33 | 6 | 7 | 3 | 23 | 16 | 4 | 6 | 7 | 17 | 27 | 10 | 13 | 10 | 40 | 43 | 43 | -3 | ||||
| 11 | Darlington (-10) | 30 | 9 | 4 | 3 | 28 | 14 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 18 | 13 | 14 | 9 | 7 | 46 | 27 | 41 | +19 | ||||
| 12 | Lincoln City | 30 | 4 | 8 | 2 | 22 | 15 | 6 | 3 | 7 | 17 | 20 | 10 | 11 | 9 | 39 | 35 | 41 | +4 | ||||
| 13 | Chesterfield | 29 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 22 | 20 | 6 | 3 | 6 | 24 | 21 | 11 | 7 | 11 | 46 | 41 | 40 | +5 | ||||
| 14 | Aldershot Town | 30 | 7 | 6 | 3 | 27 | 24 | 3 | 1 | 10 | 18 | 32 | 10 | 7 | 13 | 45 | 56 | 37 | -11 | ||||
| 15 | Notts. County | 32 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 17 | 19 | 3 | 7 | 6 | 20 | 29 | 8 | 12 | 12 | 37 | 48 | 36 | -11 | ||||
Chairman George Houghton says that there were few other options available.
He told the club's official website: "This is a sad day in the long history of Darlington Football Club, but was a result of a combination of circumstances compounded by the current economic recession.
"More and more clubs are finding it difficult to make ends meet and Darlington is one of a growing list of clubs which has succumbed to financial pressures.
"I bought the club two and a half years ago with a determination to achieve promotion and success.
"A key to my plan was to develop land around the club and use rental revenues to support the income from match tickets and develop the team to Championship levels.
"The plan has suffered two setbacks. First, it has taken too long to expedite the required planning permission to bring the site to the market.
"Secondly, the recession has meant both that the football attendances have been lower and development opportunities will realise less money.
"I have put millions of pounds into this club and it is with a heavy heart that I have had to make this decision."