Durham City have confirmed that they want to play UniBond League football next season - but they are leaving themselves with a safety net in case their move falls through.

City revealed last week that they were reconsidering their applicati! on for the UniBond League, but after two meetings earlier in the week, they have decided to press ahead with the next upwards step in the national league system.

A club spokesman said; "We have said yes to the UniBond, but we are going to leave our resignation from the Northern League as late as we can.

"We want to go forward to the UniBond League, but considering the uncertain situation in the UniBond League, we don't want to leave ourselves out on a limb. We know that there's a meeting at the FA on May 14th, but the UniBond League still must have an EGM apparently to approve what comes out of the FA, and some of the First Division clubs aren't in the mood to do that.

"The FA and the UniBond League need to sort the issue out. The Unibond League have asked for certain conditions, but if the FA doesn't agree to them, what does the UniBond do then? Like many other people, we are wondering why they have waited this long to talk about it."

The UniBond, meanwhile, has written to the FA's leagues committee, of which UniBond League chief executive Duncan Bayley is a member, asking for an assurance that the league can move from two 18 team divisions to two 22 team divisions by season 2010-11 - a clear signal for more Northern League teams to move upwards if they wish - and in return, they will accept the FA's proposal of two 18 team divisions next season. They have also want the FA to agree on the format of an additional eight games to supplement the 34 scheduled games, and also whether the new divisions will be split ! north/midlands or east/west.

Northern League secretary Tony Golightly, meanwhile, doesn't expect to receive a formal resignation from Durham.

"We're not expecting a resignation. It is the FA who are accepting them for promotion, they're being cherry-picked from the ANL.

"We have a Northern League management committee meeting on May 10, and we will discuss next season's structure according to our league rules. We wil! l be assuming that Durham and Newcastle Blue Star are leaving the league.

"We'll then inform the FA, and once the Leagues committee has met on May 14th, then the FA in turn will hopefully tell us the situation, and whether we have the structure right."

The departure of the two clubs will probably mean that just one club - Darlington RA - are relegated from the First Division to the second, with no club relegated from the second. Alnwick will not be relegated, as only one club, Birtley, are coming up from the feeder leagues.

A question mark is hanging over Prudhoe's future in the league.

Prudhoe provisionally resigned by the deadline date, just as they have done in previous years, and usually the resignation is withdrawn when the club knows for definite that it is going to continue the following season. However, the club has yet to inform the league that it is going to continue. Along with Alnwick, they haven't entered next season's FA Cup and FA Vase, a failure which has only added to the speculation.

Bishop Auckland manager Peter Mulcaster blasted his players after they lost for the second time in a week to Newcastle Benfield last Saturday.

Bishops ended their first season back in the Northern League after 17 years away by finishing in the bottom seven, but Mulcaster was far from happy with the manner of defeat.

"Too many players treat the game as a joke," said Mulcaster.

"Certain players will be moved out during the summer. I know the players that I want at the club, and I've spoken to a couple of them already, with some more next week. I knew that there would be a lot of work to do when I came to the club, and it sta! rts now."

Former Northallerton manager Paul Burton says that he will return to management one day.

Burton stunned the club by quitting at the end of their 3-1 home win over Tow Law last Saturday, a result which left them 13th in the table, not a bad performance after winning promotion last season.

"I made up my mind to go about a month ago," said Burton.

"My departure has nothing to do with the club at all. It's just that I've been a manger for nine years at Nunthorpe and Northallerton, and I'd like to have a break from the game.

The club doesn't have anybody in mind for the vacancy, and is now advertising the job.

Darlington RA manager David Woodcock has admitted that his side deserved to finish bottom of the table.

The RA's meteoric rise through the leagues came to a sad end when they finished adrift of second bottom Horden, and no hope of salvation after just six wins all season.

But Woodcock is hoping for a revival next season, and now that there is more backing at the club, in terms of finance and people,he is confident of bringing some players in to spearhead a quick return to the First Division.

"We deserve to finish bottom after the season we've had," said Woodcock.

"Maybe it's time to take a step back, reflect on what's happened, and come back stronger next season. Several people are working hard behind the scenes, and hopefully we'll be able to sign some better players. Saturday's win at Shildon showed that there is still life in us, and we went out with some fight."

West Auckland hold their presentation evening tonight in the clubhouse, beginning at 7pm. Bishop Auckland are also having their end of season celebration in the Grand Hotel, and Spennymoor still have tickets available for theirs at Spennymoor Leisure Centre.