HOWARD Thomas has blasted English Second Division Rugby's decision to turn down a deal over automatic promotion, accusing the clubs of "holding the game to ransom."

The chief executive of English First Division Rugby (EFDR) admitted he was astonished at ESDR's decision to reject the latest attempt for peace.

The long-running dispute took another twist last Friday when it was announced that ESDR had rejected a deal brokered by the Rugby Football Union and EFDR which would guarantee automatic promotion to the Zurich Premiership for this season and next.

National League clubs, including Cecil Duckworth's Worcester, felt the deal unacceptable financially.

They also rejected the proposal because the promotion system would revert to just one play-off place in 2003.

The dispute over relegation and promotion to English rugby's top flight has now been running since August last year.

It now looks as if the conflict will have to be resolved at the High Court after ESDR began legal proceedings. However, Thomas said if that happened, EFDR were happy to fight their corner.

He said: "We are preparing our legal case at present and we hoped it would not come to that. That is why we agreed the deal from the RFU Council.

"I found their decision very strange and disappointing considering Cecil Duckworth came out and said he was happy with automatic promotion and would endorse the deal.

"I don't see why 14 National League clubs should hold the game to ransom. I'm glad we are now seeing the real issue rather than Second Division spin."

He added: "ESDR have never bought into the RFU's vision of the future for professionalism and that is the main issue here.

"They are just backward looking and it is now a ESDR and RFU issue, not an EFDR issue."