The short-term future of Barnet FC will be placed in the hands of the Football League's 72 clubs after club chairman Tony Kleanthous revealed it may not now be necessary to increase Underhill's capacity to 6,000.

Mr Kleanthous was speaking ahead of a crucial vote by the Conference board yesterday on whether to accept proposals to reduce the capacity restrictions to 5,000 a move which will be put to a similar vote at the Football League's AGM in June.

The proposal would supersede a current proposal to allow promoted Conference team's one year's grace to get their capacities up to 6,000.

He said: "The original proposal means that clubs don't have to meet the criteria for 12 months as long as they have a plan in place, which is where I have a problem because I haven't got a plan yet.

"There are clubs who are objecting to this plan, such as Stevenage, as their council have built them a stadium and they are saying it is not fair that clubs who have not met the criteria should get promoted. What we are hoping is that another proposal goes through which will reduce the capacity limit to 5,000 and that will solve the problem.

"However, it has to be voted on by all the League clubs at their AGM in June."

The Bees' reprieve at Underhill will only be a stay of execution however, as the club's sloping pitch will mean a new stadium will still be necessary.

January 29, 2003 17:30