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Dave Boddy: Seeking a Football Conference ruling.

WORCESTER City chairman Dave Boddy is set to seek a ruling from the Football Conference to safeguard the future of clubs on the north-south divide.

City, who host Tamworth in Blue Square North today, face the possibility of playing their football in the league's southern section next season.

Depending on which teams are relegated from the Blue Square Premier and promoted from the three feeder leagues at level three of the non-league pyramid, the St George's Lane outfit could be switched.

The final decision will be taken by the Football Association's Alliance committee following the completion of the play-offs in May.

But because of City's geographical location, there is a distinct chance the club could yo-yo' between divisions in future seasons, causing havoc for team building.

Boddy is aware of the serious implications such a scenario would have on stability and is keen to find a solution to the problem.

"It's a point I am going to bring up at the next Conference board meeting," he said.

"I am going to ask them to take it to the Alliance committee to have a ruling brought in.

"In years gone by, there was a ruling that if a club got switched they couldn't be moved again for three years. The yo-yo' effect could be devastating for the club in terms of recruitment and the retaining of players and contract situations.

“The ‘yo-yo’ effect could be devastating for the club in terms of recruitment and the retaining of players and contract situations.” Dave Boddy

"The Alliance committee, on which I used to sit, will be the people who will decide whether we go north or south because they sanction the formation of the leagues.

"It will be that committee that ultimately decides our destiny."

Worcester would be prime candidates should moves be needed but Boddy believes Kettering would be first on the list if they were to fail in their promotion bid.

He added: "When the Conference North and Conference South were formed, Kettering went in the southern section but it never happened because a team dropped out."

The chairman added: "The debate will go on for some time yet and we will not be certain until after the Conference play-offs are complete and also after the three feeder leagues have completed their play-offs.

"There are still many twists and turns between now and then and I personally don't think it is a foregone conclusion that we will be playing in the south next season."

12:00pm Saturday 15th March 2008

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