bɹˈaʊn hæd pɹˈiːviəsli kˈʌm klˈoʊs tə dʒˈɔɪnɪŋ ðə klˈʌb æt ðə hˈaɪt ʌv dˈɑːɹlɪŋtənz faɪnˈænʃəl kɹˈaɪsɪs ɪn dʒˈænjuːˌɛɹi tˈuː θˈaʊzənd twˈɛlv bˌʌt ᵻlˈɛktᵻd tə ɹᵻmˈeɪn wɪððə nˈɔːɹθˈiːst klˈʌb.
Brown had previously come close to joining the club at the height of Darlington's financial crisis in January 2012 but elected to remain with the North-East club.