WORCESTER City chairman Dave Boddy has welcomed a move by the Conference to scrutinise club accounts.

The competition is desperate to end the seemingly annual shenanigans of teams being demoted after the conclusion of the campaign because of money issues — something which has a knock-on effect throughout the non-league pyramid.

In recent weeks, Boston United, Halifax Town and Nuneaton Borough have all been expelled from the Blue Square Conference structure for financial reasons and the powers that be do not want similar scenes repeated.

As a result, the Conference is set to introduce a financial reporting protocol for all 68 teams in the Blue Square Premier, North and South.

All clubs will have to provide quarterly reports about their expenditure, including details of payments to the Inland Revenue.

If reports show a club is getting dangerously into debt, the Conference will impose a registration embargo to prevent the situation deteriorating.

City chairman Boddy is in favour of the scheme. “It’s got to be a pleasing step,” he said. “With all the clubs that have had problems in recent seasons and this season with Nuneaton, Boston and Halifax, the league will have an idea where they are at and what state clubs are in. It’s positive and the club is fully behind it.”

Conference general manager Dennis Strudwick said: “We hope it will be a sensible management tool for clubs and will encourage them to live within their means.”