BOLTON Wanderers have pledged their support for the lower divisions threatened by a breakaway of the top Nationwide League clubs.

Despite holding a place among the elite of the Premiership, Wanderers have never forgotten their roots as founder members of the Football League.

But rumour abounds that the big boys want to turn the Premier League into a closed shop while top Division One clubs are plotting another soccer revolution.

Wanderers have not been party to either move and chief executive Des McBain issued a warning to those clubs advocating another reform of the league structure.

"Change for change's sake would not necessarily be good for the game," he cautioned.

"Fine, if there is a way of ensuring the 92 clubs of the Premier League and the Nationwide League continue to offer movement between divisions and financial support for each other. But they have to be careful they don't cut off the support to the so-called lesser clubs.

"If they do break away it could be the death knell for the two lower divisions."

The Nationwide League has said it will fight any move by the Premiership to impose a one-up system of promotion and relegation.

But while they were on the defensive at the Lytham St Anne's headquarters it emerged that leading lights of the league are planning the breakway of a 16-strong group. The Phoenix League, as it would be known, would aim to take a larger slice of sponsorship and TV revenue, which would hit the likes of Bury, Stockport and Wigan Athletic.

Wanderers have not been involved in either move.

"Nothing was mentioned at the Premier League AGM of changing the current promotion and relegation system," Mr McBain added. "And talk about a breakaway of the top Nationwide League clubs is news to us.

"We knew that clandestine meetings and discussions were taking place last season but we were never invited to any.

"Maybe it's because we have always supported the league structure and see no reason to change it.

"If UEFA bring pressure to bear to cut the size of the Premier League to, say 18 clubs, then we will probably have to go along with it. And, if that were the case, we would probably see promotion and relegation cut from three clubs to two. But that's something to be considered in the future as far as we are concerned."

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