FORMER Barnsley defender Neil Austin will leave Darlington after the Clubs administrators released almost all the Quakers first team squad.

A statement on the club's official website read: "Following the end of the playing season and the expiry of the player deferral agreements, and considering the reduced levels of income in the close season, the administrator has unfortunately been forced to allow the majority of the first team to leave the club with immediate effect.

"This decision has been made to enable the club to trade as long as possible in order to allow any potential buyer as much time as possible in order to make an offer for the club.

"The first team management has left the club and an interim manager will not be appointed so as to allow a purchaser the opportunity to make that decision and to save on the costs of running the club during a period when income is at its lowest.

"Craig Liddle and Neil Maddison have been retained by the administrator and will be taking control of general football management immediately. The administrator would like to thank both Craig and Neil for their support."