LEIGH RMI supremo Chris Healey has slammed the Football League’s decision not to promote two Nationwide Conference clubs instead of one into Division Three next season.

Chairmen from Second and Third Division clubs, with the exception of Wycombe Wanderers, voted unanimously to block the ground-breaking proposals. First Division chairmen are believed to have abstained from voting at their meeting in Chester.

The rejection has prompted Conference clubs to consider changing their own promotion criteria from the current three-up, three down system to just one-up, one down.

Healey, while privately against this tit-for-tat move, is ‘‘very disappointed’’ by the outcome of the Carden Park summit.

‘‘I think it is a very short-sighted approach by the Football League not to allow another club to be promoted into the Third Division.

‘‘After all, the formation of the pyramid system is one of the best things that has ever happened in football.’’

Hard work

Leigh, UniBond League champions just over 12 months ago, are now one of the country’s 100 leading sides after finishing fifth in their Conference debut.

‘‘A lot of hard work went into putting these plans together and I think it’s shameful what’s happened,’’ added Healey.

His sentiments are echoed by Stalybridge chief Peter Dennerly, whose own club has just succeeded the Railwaymen as UniBond Premier Division champions.

‘‘It’s a blow,’’ says Dennerly. ‘‘We might not be in a position to take advantage of two clubs going up just yet but you never know what could happen.

‘‘You’ve only got to look at how well Leigh did in their first season.’’

The major stumbling block to giving the green light to the plans has been finance. League chairmen were concerned that the Conference’s financial package, put together with help from the Football Association and covering parachute payments to clubs dropping out of Division Three, were only guaranteed for two years.

Division Three clubs are also thought to have wanted £500,000 each for giving up an extra place to the Conference.

‘‘We wanted to know where the money was coming from after the two year period,’’ said Bury chairman Terry Robinson, one of those who voted for the status quo.

‘‘But we’ve said all along that if the finances are right we have no objection to two-up and two-down.’’

An extraordinary general meeting of Conference clubs, due to be staged by Rushden and Diamonds on Thursday, will now discuss what options lie open to its members.

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