The relationship between the Football League and the Nationwide Conference was set to top the agenda when chairmen of the third division clubs, including York City's Douglas Craig, met in London today.

The current structure of one-up, one-down has come under strong criticism with Sports Minister Kate Hoey the latest to speak out in favour of change.

Conference chief executive John Moules said: "We feel we have progressed significantly over the last 10 years, in terms of administration, playing standards and stadia to earn, as of right, additional promotion places to the Football League.

"From next season we will have eight full-time teams, and the only thing stopping all 22 clubs being full-time is the single promotion place."

The play-offs have proved to be a great success in the Football League, and Moules feels a similar scheme would be of enormous benefit to the Conference.

"If by Christmas you are in 14th position you still have an opportunity to progress, giving clubs the chance to extend their season.

"What we want is a fair and equitable system throughout the Football League of promotion and relegation."

Up until 1986, teams outside the Football League had to go before a panel to secure the final place among the 92 clubs, with it nearly always being the side who finished bottom of the old Fourth Division re-elected.

Scarborough were the first club to gain automatic promotion to the Football League in 1987 but even since then the Conference champions could be denied entry on the basis of their ground failing to meet Football League standards - a fate recently suffered by Stevenage Borough.

"We are always willing to consider changes if they are to the benefit of the game," said Football League spokesman John Nagle.

"But it is unlikely that extra promotion places will become available until the commencement of the next television deal, which runs out at the end of next year.

"There is no doubt that a number of clubs from the Conference would be able to survive in the third division, but on the other side what we have to guard against is that it is a major change in terms of the actual business of the club changing from a semi-professional structure to a professional one.

"If we are talking about a number of clubs changing each year then it is asking a lot for those clubs."

Six of the clubs who have been promoted from the Conference have gained automatic promotion to the second division.

Conference clubs, meanwhile, are contemplating a second division of their own for leading non-league clubs.

The idea could see the top eight clubs from the three main non-league feeder outfits - the Ryman, Dr Martens and UniBond leagues - form a new Conference second division.

see also 'Red hot Carruthers gunning for City'

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