A LEADING supporter of the controversial proposal to merge Teesside's two main athletics clubs has been buoyed by the news that it will take a two-thirds majority at Middlesbrough and Cleveland Harriers and only a simple majority at Mandale Harriers to secure the amalgamation.

Eddie Murtagh, who was secretary at Middlesbrough and Cleveland for 16 years, said: "I was under the misapprehension that it would need a 75 per cent majority, but it has been pointed out to me that this is not the case.

"This is excellent news for the pro-merger supporters and I am more and more confident this will go through.

"My feeling is that most athletes and supporters of athletics on Teesside are in favour of the two clubs merging and combining their strengths and I am optimistic that a two-thirds majority can be obtained among Middlesbrough and Cleveland members.

"But it is vitally important that everyone uses their vote. I think that many supporters of the merger were a bit daunted when they thought it needed a 75 per cent majority, but that is not the case and they now feel that a two-thirds majority is very achievable.

"There are some people against the amalgamation, which is fair enough and they have a democratic right to oppose it, but I believe that it can only be for the future benefit of athletics on Teesside that the two clubs forget their old rivalries and pool their resources.

"At one time there was a terrible bitterness and hostility between the two but I think a lot of that has gone.

"It was absolute stupidity to have two neighbouring clubs fighting each other and going round the same schools to recruit new young members.

"The proposal to merge has come from the grass roots and I think the amalgamation movement is now unstoppable."

Sport England, which controls lottery money distribution, has said that a major grant for the refurbishment of Clairville Stadium, which is used as a base by both clubs, will have a much better chance of being approved if the two clubs merge, while Middlebrough Council are also in favour of an amalgamation.

Members of Middlesbrough and Cleveland held an informal meeting last week when several issues about the proposed merger were discussed, and it was revealed that a two-thirds majority would be needed at a forthcoming Emergency General Meeting, which will be held at the same time as a Mandale EGM in the next few weeks.