SYDENHAMS Wessex League chairman Alf Peckham remains confident of forming a second division next season even though the national FA have been asked to intervene.
The Hampshire and Dorset Premier Leagues stand to lose several their clubs if the Wessex expansion gets off the ground and have voiced their concerns to the powers that be at Soho Square.
Now the FA have have called all three leagues to a meeting on the neutral territory of Eastleigh's Ten Acres ground next Tuesday to resolve the ill-feeling and confusion that has resulted since the Wessex announced in May that they intended to press ahead with a 14 to 16-strong division two.
When the new National League System was unveiled by the Football Association, the Wessex Division 1 was placed in Step 5 of the pyramid, while the Dorset and Hampshire Leagues were Step 7.
The proposed Wessex 2 would fill Step 6, but both the Dorset and Hampshire Leagues have registered protest at the way Peckham and company have attempted to achieve this.
The Hampshire League have subsequently applied to have their own Premier Division 'promoted' to Step 6 and their Division 1 to Step 7.
A Hampshire League statement said: "Both the Dorset and Hampshire Leagues feel it cannot be for the good of football to allow their own leagues to be devastated to form the proposed Wessex 2 when all clubs would be achieving was to add to their administration and travel costs to play the same standard of football they are now.
"Side issues involving the placing of reserve sides and whether the FA will allow some clubs to jump up the National League System through ground grading rather than through footballing ability."
Peckham, though, is determined to stand his ground and said: "Tuesday's meeting doesn't bother us at all. We've had the green light for a second division from the National League System Committee and we've been sanctioned for 44 clubs ever since the league was formed.
"Our Division 2 will go ahead provided we get enough clubs - and I think we will. But clubs, as we know, can quite easily change their minds and until their letters start to come in in December, we can't say for sure we've got x-number of clubs on board." Geoff Cox, chairman of the Hampshire League said: "Everyone's in limbo at the moment, but the FA are the final arbitrators and we'll see what comes out next week. I believe the Wessex League have had 18 enquiries from clubs about the second division, but only one definite application.
"If they end up getting only five or six clubs, then it's not going to be a goer - unless they relegate heavily from their top division."
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