THE OWNER of Darwen FC says he fears for the club’s future because of a legal row with Thwaites Brewery.

Kevin Henry, who regained control of the club in July, said the dispute, over a £12,000 bill for beer, could put him out of business.

He claimed it related to the previous regime in charge of the club and branded it a “David and Goliath situation”.

He said: “This court action may well bring to an end 140 years of Darwen FC, over a hundred of which have been played at the Anchor Ground.”

A spokesman for the Blackburn-based brewery said: “Thwaites are involved in legal discussions at the moment and therefore do not want to comment on the ongoing case.

In July Mr Henry successfully won a court injunction banning former boss Ted Ward from the Anchor Ground following a dispute over ownership.

At the court hearing in Birmingham Mr Henry claimed Mr Ward had set up another company with a similar name to Darwen FC into which he “diverted funds.”

It was claimed Mr Ward had “passed off” this company - Darwen Football and Rugby Club - as Darwen Football and Social Club, which was first set up in 1973.

Mr Henry said there was “no way” he could pay the latest debt if it was enforced and insisted it did not correspond to his time at the club.

He added: “There is a real David and Goliath story here, especially in view of the current economic climate.

“I have been in touch with both the North West Counties Football League and the Football Association, and both have been very helpful. But the upshot is that if Darwen FC goes into liquidation it will not be allowed to continue its fixtures and will cease to exist.”

Mr Ward was unavailable for comment.