YORK City Knights' hopes of one day winning automatic promotion into Super League look like being dashed - unless they can win two promotions in the next few years.

The Rugby Football League were today set to announce plans to eradicate promotion and relegation between Super League and National League, thus arguably making the elite tier a closed shop.

Proposals to restructure the rugby league set-up are set to see the size of Super League increased from 12 to 14 teams in a move which had been widely called for. But the plans also included giving new teams protection from immediate relegation and amending the entry criteria.

It is thought any restructuring is likely to be implemented for the 2008 or 2009 seasons. This means if the Knights' dreams of winning promotion to Super League are to be realised, they would have to go up from LHF National League Two and again from NL1 by that time.

After that, under these proposals, there is likely to be a system whereby clubs can only go up if they pass strict on-field and off-field criteria - thus ending teams' chances of going up purely on merit.

Critics claim this would mean Super League becomes a franchise-based operation much like the NRL in Australia and American football - which is alien to British sport fans - while it was yet to be explained how clubs could be kicked out of the top tier to make way.

However, RFL executive chairman Richard Lewis insisted the changes would not mean National League clubs would be prevented from moving up to Super League.

"What we are really saying are clubs at National League level, as long as they have got the crowd and facilities, will have the opportunity," he said.

"It will be a transparent system and one in that the clubs will know what they have to aspire to and, crucially, will have time to prepare."

The changes to the system were being planned due to the huge difference in quality between Super League and the National League, the argument being that promoted clubs from a largely part-time competition had little time to build a competitive side for the full-time top tier and risked financial difficulties by splashing out on players at short notice.

One proposal being considered is to promote a club on the basis of a strong application, based on playing strength and infrastructure, every two or three years. Applications could come from existing National League clubs, such as the Knights, or teams from rugby league expansion areas like France, Wales and London.

Lewis said: "We are probably talking about no promotion or relegation. We are talking about clubs guaranteed a place in Super League for two or three years - those details have not been finalised - and not facing the fear of relegation every year and therefore having to make short-term decisions.

"They would not have to invest in players when realistically sometimes it is better to invest in facilities and marketing."

Updated: 10:26 Thursday, May 19, 2005