THE Office of Fair Trading is due to make a decision this week on whether English First Division Rugby clubs acted unfairly in the ongoing promotion and relegation row.

English Second Division Rugby clubs (ESDR) applied to the office three weeks ago after seeking legal advice and the result should be known within the next few days.

If ESDR are successful in their case then the OFT could implement a two-up, two-down system for this season and give a massive boost to Worces-ter's promotion bid.

Benefactor Cecil Duckworth, who has been leading the fight against the EFDR's decision for just one promotion play-off place for this season, is hopeful of a favourable conclusion.

He said: "We have always believed the EFDR clubs abused their power and that is why we have had to go down this route.

"We originally put in the application to safeguard the long-term future of rugby but if the OFT decides that what has gone on is unfair and that the clubs have abused their power then it has the power to put in place two promotion and relegation places."

The Rugby Football Union, EFDR and ESDR meet next Thursday or Friday with independent facilitator and High Court judge Oliver Popplewell to hammer out an agreement over promotion and relegation and the future funding structure of the game.

And ESDR clubs are hopeful they can go into the meeting armed with a favourable OFT decision to back up their argument.

Duckworth added: "Hopefully between the OFT decision and the Popplewell meeting we can come to some sort of sensible solution and start talking about rugby rather than money and promotion issues."

Meanwhile former Worcester Rugby Club president David Hall-mark has urged the rest of rugby to sit up and look at the Sixways model of success.

He said: "The Worcester model is something which can work for the rest of rugby.

"Under the benefice of Cecil Duckworth, this concept can succeed to develop and deliver a rugby centre of excellence to satisfy the whole range of participants in the rugby community."