Controversial Colombian Faustino Asprilla today issued an apology to Darlington fans over the collapse of his move to the Third Division club.
Darlington chairman George Reynolds was furious yesterday after Asprilla turned his back on the club, allegedly because he received a better offer from a Middle East club.
The club had organised a work permit for the former Newcastle and Parma striker who had even been paraded before fans at Tuesday's match with Carlisle.
"I feel gutted," said Reynolds in a statement released on the club website, www.darlington-fc.net.
"I have put seven hard weeks into this and went to tremendous expense. He reneged on the deal with us. I can fully understand why the football industry is in such a mess. Where are the days of the gentlemen's agreement, the shake of the hand and the binding contract.
However Asprilla says no deal was ever reached.
"I am very sorry it didn't work out," Asprilla told Sky Sports News. I travelled 20,000 miles with the intention to play for Darlington. I would still like to play for them in the future."
Asprilla claimed Reynolds had been premature in announcing the deal had been done.
"We never agreed on a deal," added the Colombian. "What Darlington offered me was very good but it wasn't enough to live on here."
AFP