WORCESTER City’s fixtures for next season have been delayed because of an appeal by Rushden and Diamonds against their expulsion from the Conference.

The 2011/12 Blue Square Bet North schedule had been set for Tuesday but has been put back at least 24 hours while Rushden’s case is heard.

Diamonds were kicked out of non-league’s top-flight for financial reasons at the league’s annual general meeting last month.

However, they have appealed against the decision and the Football Association hearing at Wembley is also on Tuesday.

If Rushden fail, the fixtures for the Conference, together with the north and south divisions, will be released on Wednesday.

The Northamptonshire club being reinstated, though, could cause havoc as the fixtures would need to be revised to reverse the shake-up triggered by Rushden being thrown out.

Southport, reprieved following Diamonds’ expulsion, would be relegated to City’s league, while Bishop’s Stortford, angered at being moved laterally from Blue Square Bet South, would return and Thurrock go down.

Meanwhile, the newly-seeded St George’s Lane pitch is making good progress and expected to be in fine condition for the new season.

Following heavy criticism of the surface in recent campaigns, directors sought the advice of the Institute of Groundsmanship and have since planted new grass with deeper roots for durability and installed a £3,000 irrigation system for regular watering.

It is also hoped to use the pitch less with City seeking an alternative training venue and Evesham United only expected to play a handful of games there while the finishing touches are made to their new home.