York City chairman Douglas Craig today revealed to the Evening Press he will be fighting a little-known plan that could see the number of promotion places from Division Three to Division Two trimmed from four to three.

The 72 chairmen of non-Premiership clubs, including Craig, will vote on the thorny issue of two-up, two-down between the Conference and the Football League's basement division at the League's annual general meeting on Saturday.

But another motion is also to be considered.

Second Division Wycombe Wanderers are putting forward a proposal that could reduce the number of promotion places from Division Three to Division Two from four to three.

Likewise, the relegation places from Division Two to Division Three will also be reduced from four to three.

It is a little publicised move that has plainly not found favour with the City chief, who pledged to tackle it.

"If there are going to be changes of that nature then they should be looked at as a whole and the matter should be discussed by a group that represents all the divisions to decide what should happen," insisted Craig.

"It is just a recommendation that one club, without discussion with other clubs, has put forward.

"There have been no discussions on this question at all between Second or Third Division clubs."

Meanwhile, Craig believes the matter of promotion from the Conference, which looked to be cut and dried when it emerged the Football Association had thrown its weight behind the move to see two clubs relegated from the Football League from next season, will not be resolved this weekend.

The change would see two clubs rather than just one win promotion from the Conference and the FA was expected to participate in financial help for both relegated and promoted clubs.

However, while Craig reiterated his backing for the principle of two-up, two-down, he insisted the issue of compensation or 'parachute payments' remained unresolved despite the prospect of FA intervention.

"The Conference are lobbying hard but I certainly believe it is far too early and I certainly hope it will not be passed," said Craig.

"I think you will find the majority of the Third Division will be radically opposed to it.

"The Third Division had set up a committee to consider the matter and they reported back to the Third Division who agreed in principle.

"The only thing that remained to be agreed was the financial package for the Third Division club giving up their 'property' rights.

"We still did not manage to reach agreement on that."

Added City's chairman: "The Third Division have agreed in principle but the conditions are the problem.

"There are some very good clubs in the Conference but there is a tremendous gap between Third Division financial arrangements and the Conference.

"In its own way it is just as big a gap as that between Premiership clubs and the First Division."

Updated: 12:14 Tuesday, June 05, 2001