Northern League chairman Mike Amos believes the league is on the point of further isolation.

Amos has been watching the recent events regarding the proposed expansion of the Conference and the reorganisation of the national system with concern, and now in his opinion the ANL is being pushed out.

And in his report to the league's AGM next week, he is going to enlarge on his worries.

"The new proposals mean that the Conference is setting up North and South Divisions, and the UniBond League could lose fourteen clubs into the Conference North," he said.

"Clubs from the Northern League have said that financial reasons prevent them from moving upwards, so the UniBond League would probably take clubs from the Northern Counties East League and the North West Counties League to make up the difference. We've been told that at least seven clubs are interested.

"Two years ago, the FA suggested that the re-organisation of the pyramid would be exciting and financially advantageous. Under these proposals, from the Northern League's point of view, how can that be so? In two years, we haven't gone anywhere, except a step backwards.

"An official of the FA told me back in March that there would be no further changes in the foreseeable future. Since then, the Conference has added a north and south division which is expected to be approved during the summer. The FA appear to have caved in, and now it looks as if we've been abandoned.

"The proposed changes don't address the isolation of the Northern League.

We're going to be cut off from the rest of the pyramid, and a chance of addressing the issues we've raised has been missed.

"The longer the league's isolation goes on, then the less likely clubs will be to leave. It is not an attractive proposition for them to move on, considering the problems some former Northern League clubs have had since they moved upwards."

Amos has in the past suggested that a Tweed-Humber League should be set up, but that idea has been ignored by the FA - and now he will approach the clubs for views on the league's next step.

Easington are hoping to announce their new manager after the weekend.

The Easington committee will interview six candidates for their vacancy at the weekend, and then announce the successor to Tony Metcalf, who quit to become assistant manager of Jarrow Roofing at the end of the season.

Seven more clubs are looking for new managers at the moment - Peterlee, Tow Law, West Auckland, Whitley Bay, Northallerton, Consett and Washington Nissan.

Durham FA are considering the formation of a County league for under-18s.

Secretary John Topping said that "the association is concerned regarding what appears to be a demise of under 18 football on Saturdays and therefore a meeting of the youth committee of the Association is to be held in the last week in May and a formation of a county league is to be discussed.

"We will be looking for any teams who may be interested in participating in the league, and sponsorship."

Mr Topping says that anyone interested should contact him on (0191) 3848653.