DARWEN FC could be back in business within a week – under the new name AFC Darwen.

Bosses at the club said that all the hard work had been completed behind the scenes to ensure that the famous side was not lost to the town.

And when paperwork is completed by liquidators, the club’s pitch and facilities at the Anchor Ground are to be handed back to the club.

Blackburn with Darwen Council owns the ground and has agreed to continue leasing it to the club.

But the club’s manager, Dennis Hill, said he was going to have to let several players go as he rebuilds the side for next season.

After going out of business, the club was stripped of its Vodkat League status and will now take up a position in the West Lancashire Football League, a division below where they were.

But Mr Hill said that the future was bright for the side after nine youth teams were able to start up again this summer.

He said: “Everything is in place. We are just waiting for the paperwork and the club will officially be up and running again.

“The council has got the lease but cannot hand it over until the paperwork is sorted out.

“I have spoken to all the first team and inevitably we are going to have to let a few of the lads go because of the league we are in.

“But on July 2, pre-season starts for us and we will be back.”

Mr Hill said that the new club would be involved in the local community, offering coaching sessions to school children and offering facilities at the sports club.

He said: “It is so important that the club keeps going because of everything it means to the town and the local area.

“The council has always backed us and so have local people.

“We’re just waiting for everything to be rubber-stamped now and it should be in a few days. It’s great news for us all.

“What we are doing does mean the end of Darwen FC, but it will be all the same people involved in the new club.”