IT'S more than six months since I had a dig at Darwen FC's chairman Ted Ward and his big plans for the future of the club. Heard it all before. For close on 50 years. Yawn.

I finished off my column last October with the line: "Fans like me have wrestled their way through so many disappointments over the years that I fear Ted Ward's Ten-Year Plan will turn out to be rather like a Joe Stalin Five-Year Plan. Only twice as desperate."

Ouch! I had planned to meet up with Ward although I thought I'd let the steaming settle down to a gentle simmer first.

Somehow I never got round to it till the other day when I called into the Anchor to watch Darwen hammer Bootle 4-1. Great fun!

He was celebrating a new 20-year lease from the council and a three-goal lead.

For my part, Thwaites Smooth and Benedictine chasers helped to mellow my occasionally abrasive approach.

I'd been reading some pointed digs at him on various websites so I took the opportunity of talking to a couple of former players whom I know.

Their verdict? He's OK.

Former club skipper Neil Almond told me: "Ted's having to learn the hard way that it's tough running a semi-professional outfit like Darwen.

"I left and so did a lot of other lads when he sacked manager Steve Mullen.

"We didn't feel it was right. But I've no problem at all with Ted Ward and I'd be happy playing there again."

Ward seems to have abandoned any thoughts he may have had about moving the club into a more central location such as Robin Bank.

But he is still hoping to develop land behind the Anchor, principally for outdoor soccer pitches and, no doubt, some sort of commercial enterprise.

"There's about 12 acres of land alongside us ready to be developed and I want to develop it.

"But the owners are asking a small fortune. Twice what I reckon it's worth.

"If ever we can do a deal I'd be happy to pour millions into the venture," he told me.

Access would be easy from the new motorway services.

It all has more of a ring to it than a new ground on Robin Bank's steep hillside and could be a roaring success, both for the club and the town.

Incidentally, Ted Ward has nothing but praise for the local council and for next-door neighbours Akzo-Nobel.

"Amazingly co-operative," he says.

This season Darwen have had three managers and more than 60 players and the club is still in the middle reaches of the Vodkat NW Counties League Division 2.

But new boss Dennis Hill is getting stuck in and planning ahead for next season.

Three promotions in the next seven or eight years would put Darwen in the Conference North.

And watch out this summer for a rugby league team breaking new ground at the club.

Rugby league at the Anchor? Whatever next...