A SUCCESSFUL Worcester City Football Club could be left with no chance of winning League status unless it has a new stadium.

A radical restructuring of football's lower leagues is currently being discussed, which could leave the blue-and-whites just a step away from Football League status.

But without a new, improved venue, the club could be left agonisingly close to the League but unable to enter it.

St George's Lane has Nationwide Conference grading for its facilities, allowing the club to join that league if it wins promotion.

But the FA's new requirements would prevent Worcester from going any higher than that unless it had improved facilities.

Non-League clubs face an uncertain future, with a number of suggestions for restructure being considered at the moment.

Teams in the three leagues below the Nationwide Conference have voted in favour of a change to two regional feeder leagues below the Conference.

However, the Football Association has not yet made a decision on what changes will be made.

It is also rumoured that the Football League Division Three could be split into North and South divisions, using some clubs from the Conference.

WCFC secretary Steve Bond said St George's Lane would be suitable in the short term, but there would be serious problems if the club was challenging for promotion from the Conference.

"With our ground, we wouldn't be able to get into the League," he said. "We need to keep moving forwards as standards keep improving all the time.

"No club wants to be in a league where they can't get promoted. We're desperate to keep planning ahead."

If the three leagues below the Conference merged to form two leagues, the best 44 clubs, almost certainly including Worcester, would be chosen.

They will be selected on their final position in the table, but also on the standard of their ground, financial position, crowd potential and community involvement.

To move any higher than the Conference, clubs need to conform to the FA's statutory requirements.

The minimum stadium capacity needed to enter the Football League is 6,000.

The club's main stand must have a minimum of 2,000 seats. St George's Lane has 1,100 seats.

There must also be covered accommodation for 1,000 more spectators. Worcester's ground has it for only 300.

"People might ask why we need a 6,000-capacity stadium," said Mr Bond. "The answer is that we have to comply with the rules."