THE Northern Premier League is to advertise for clubs to form a new second division in time for the 2003 season.

The League needs to establish a feeder system to comply with the England and Wales Cricket Board's criteria for Premier Leagues.

And having failed to persuade the Jennings Ribblesdale League to join forces as a feeder league, the NPL will now turn its attention to individual clubs.

The league today confirmed the move which could have ramifications for the Ribblesdale League if any of the clubs that backed a merger decides to go it alone and join the proposed new second division and the subsequent promotion and relegation formula.

"The Northern League fully understands the effect that this development could have on other leagues and wishes to be quite open in all the negotiations," said NPL secretary John Cooper.

"They and the LCB feel it is important that even though no decision to formally apply will have been made, clubs showing interest should inform their own leagues of their intentions and if the development does go ahead that resignations are made early enough to allow any consequential effects on leagues to be sorted out or minimised."

The NPL is inviting clubs interested in joining the league to write to the secretary by June 1ahead of an information meeting.

It is envisaged that a period of consultation would follow with formal applications being made in September.

A decision to go ahead with the second tier, and invitations sent to the selected clubs, would then be made by January next year. Once the viability of the proposed expansion is confirmed, clubs would then be asked to resign from their own leagues from the end of the 2002 season with a view to joining the NPL for the start of the 2003 campaign.

Clubs wishing to help form the new second division will have to possess a suitable playing strength with facilities that meet or can be developed to meet the criteria for Premier League grounds.

And the plan will not get off the ground if the NPL, which acquired Premiership status last summer, fails to attract sufficient new members that meet the standards laid down by the ECB.

JOHN COOPER can be contacted at 45, Pennine Way, Gt Ecclestone, Preston. PR30YS. Phone: 01995 670720.