SCREWFIX Direct Western League clubs have given the go-ahead to attract new clubs into the league from the start of the next season but not at the expense of current standards.

At a general meeting of clubs, held at Bridgwater on Monday, the league's board of directors was given a mandate to seek clubs from the county leagues to boost numbers in each division to 20 teams.

The one proviso clubs gave was making sure the standard of the league did not drop in order to increase the number of member clubs.

With the imminent risk of losing two or three clubs from the Premier division, to join the Dr Martens' Southern league, and two clubs from the first division by relegation, the Screwfix league are now looking at the possibility of having to find up to eight clubs.

Already 14 clubs have shown an interest in joining the Screwfix league by invitation and league secretary Ken Clarke admits there are still many issues to be ironed out.

He said: "With the changes that will take place with the conference and the leagues immediately below that, leagues such as the Western League are likely to lose a few clubs.

"We have contacted various clubs from our feeder leagues and we will now be contacting each of these clubs and advising their current league, and arranging to carry out a fact-finding mission with each one.

"We initially aimed at those clubs with a reasonable playing strength but those present at Monday's meeting expressed a wish to maintain facility standards, which means that we may have to look at some more clubs.

"We are particularly interested to hear from any club with floodlights who feel they could achieve and maintain Western League standards."