Angered by the decision of the Football Conference to recognise only the Northern Premier and Dr Martens Leagues as feeder competitions for the 2002/03 season, Ryman League offcials are taking the issue to the Football Association.

A league circular says: 'League secretary Nick Robinson has written to Steve Parkin, the newly appointed Director of the National Game Board, which has the task of restructuring the game below the Nationwide League.

'The Ryman League has been actively involved with both the Northern Premier and Dr Martens Leagues over the restructuring of the football pyramid and in particular looked at ways of dividing the south of the country between the Ryman and Dr Martens Leagues.

'The Dr Martens League eventually withdrew from the discussions when an agreement in principle was about to be reached. It is now known to the Ryman League that the Conference have had additional meetings with the other tow leagues to which the Ryman League was not invited.

' The Conference plan has not been sanctioned by the Football Association and the Ryman League chairman Alan Turvey, recently elected to the main board of the FA, is taking the issue to the highest levels within Lancaster Gate.

'He hopes to get all the issues debated in an open and democratic way to ensure the best interests of all the clubs, both within the Ryman League and non-league football as a whole, are served.

'Since the initial announcement by the Conference they have made no further public statements, and while the Ryman League plans to hold a meeting for all its clubs, at present there are no definitive matters to discuss.'