THE rumours, denials, statements and counter statements about an expanded Nationwide football Conference continue to fly but details about the ambitious plan could become dramatically clearer in the next seven days.

Conference bosses are set to meet with FA representatives next Tuesday in a meeting which could go a long way to deciding what the non league pyramid will look like next season.

The Conference wants to recruit 44 new clubs to form Northern and Southern divisions and wants the changes in place for the new season.

The FA, which initially opted for the three feeder league status quo after a lengthy study, may be unable to stop the momentum of the top non league clubs but is understood to be unhappy about the time scale for introducing the new system.

The meeting is set to start at 2.30pm and Redditch football fans will want to know how it will affect teams in and around the town.

Redditch United are potentially the biggest winners as they could end up winning promotion to the Dr Martens Premier Division by the backdoor.

Conference chief executive John Moules told the Advertiser 57 of the 69 clubs have shown their commitment to an expanded Conference by paying their membership fees for such a league next season.

He said the 44 clubs required would be drawn from the three feeder leagues - the Dr Martens Southern League, The Unibond Northern League and the Ryman League.

Recruits would be decided on league position and five other criteria: stadium facilities; financial requirements; playing record and attendance levels; community links and infrastructure.

On the face of it, if the teams are recruited evenly there could be 14 or 15 Dr Martens Premier Division sides in the new expanded set-up which could then mean seven or eight sides promoted from the Western Division to replace them.

But Dr Martens league officials, unhappy with the thought of losing their best clubs are refusing to speculate about the plans.

"The FA have told the Conference any new set-up will not start next season," said spokesman Dennis Strudwick.

"We have held meetings and discussed the situation but I am unable to comment any further on what will happen."

Redditch United are well on course for a top seven finish but could be undone if Western Division officials decided to take previous finishes into account.

That would mean sixth place this year would leave United averaging a ninth placed finish over the past five seasons or lower over four years.

Further down the chain, Alvechurch could also be winners - the lower down the leagues the harder to calculate numbers but the Midland Combination could end up sending two or three teams to make up numbers in a weakened Alliance which could give Andy Hibbert's side a welcome safety net.