THERE will be no back-pedalling for the Radcliffe Borough players this season... unless they reach the first round proper of the FA Cup.

Wanting to fall in line with the Football Association's policy regarding the stamping out of dissent towards referees, the UniBond League had applied to the FA to be allowed to introduce the 'ten-yard' rule at free kicks.

But the only competitions which are to be allowed to use the new rule are the FA Premiership and the Nationwide League, and it will be introduced into the FA Cup at the first round proper.

That means the likes of Boro having to battle through all the qualifying rounds in order to experience the novelty of staying clear of a determined referee.

Change is under way, too, in the pyramid structure of football for the Nationwide Conference has issued a statement that it intends, from the commencement of the 2002-2003 season, that the Northern Premier League and and Southern Football League will be the only recognised feeder leagues to the Conference.

The constitution of both competitions will be derived from clubs in the Northern Premier, Southern and Isthmian Leagues and it is anticipated that this will create the opportunity for increased promotion into the Nationwide Conference.

These proposals are still very much in the embryo stage and a great deal of negotiation and discussion is yet to be done.

At the moment, though, Boro are still concentrating their efforts on a pre-season programme designed to ensure they are as well prepared as possible for the big kick-off on August 19.

In the past weeks they have played several games and the three against Bury, Manchester United and Manchester City have proved money-spinners

The latest game, against the men from Maine Road, pulled in 664 fans who saw Joe Royle's players gain a 3-1 win, Neil Hardy on target again for Boro.

He scored in Saturday's 1-0 win at Fleetwood and the former Altrincham and Morecambe striker is clearly settling in with his new colleagues who face further pre-season games at Abbey Hey on Saturday and Rossendale United on August 12.