CHIPPENHAM Town could be playing under the Nationwide Conference banner in 18 months time after the Football Association agreed to an overhaul of the current National Leagues System.

The breakthrough was made when all four competitions at the top of the pyramid the Conference, Dr Martens, Unibond and Ryman Leagues agreed to the formation of a Football Alliance that will operate as an extension of the Nationwide Conference.

The move will see the creation of new 24-team Conference North and Conference South feeder leagues for the start of the 2004/05 season.

The leagues will be run by the Alliance and each of the existing competitions will have a 25 per cent stakeholder position in decision-making. The FA will are now looking to finalise the criteria for entry into the two feeder leagues.

Bluebirds secretary Chris Blake said the move could lead to reduced travelling and increased sponsorship revenue should for his side.

Said Blake: "The new structure will give teams a better chance of promotion up the pyramid. We believe there will be play-offs for a second promotion place at the end of the season."

Blake is confident Chippenham will be allowed to join the new Conference South, provided they finish inside the top 16 in the Dr Martens Premier Division next season.

He said: "They have various criteria they will be looking at, including facilities, crowds, links with the community. Financial stability will also play a major part. Clubs in the respective Premier Divisions all have grounds that will qualify for the new league. We certainly won't have problem financially.

The FA's grand plan may have a knock-on effect for other clubs in Wiltshire.

The Dr Martens League stand to lose 16 of their members at the end of next season and may recruit teams from the Hellenic and Screwfix Direct Leagues to replace them.