GEORGE Reynolds, one of the north-east's most colourful and controversial characters has died at the age of 84.
Sunderland-born Mr Reynolds, a former safe cracker, took over Darlington FC in 1999 and built a 25,000-seat stadium on the edge of the town, naming it after himself.
However, with average attendances of just 1,500, the club was never able to fill the venue and was eventually placed in administration.
Reynolds left the Quakers in 2004 and the following year was sentenced to three years in jail for tax avoidance.
Ex-Sunderland player Micky Horswill said: “People will think of George in different ways. I know he could be a swine when he wanted to be but he also had a heart of gold underneath.”
