Colchester United chairman Peter Heard says he has been assured by David Sheepshanks that the First Division will not leave Divisions Two and Three behind as the Football League seeks to remarket the top Natiowide League.

Sheepshanks was voted back onto the board on Monday and had previously made comments which implied that a breakaway First Division was inevitable. This worried Heard who has been acting League chairman for the last four months.

However, he says Sheepshanks has allayed some of his fears: "If the First Division don't want to cause difficulties there will be no problem with the changes but we won't know until we see their agenda.

“I have seen the comments made by David Sheepshanks regarding the future of the league and I'm not entirely happy but since the meeting in Leicester on Monday he has left a message assuring me that their plans will not be to the detriment of the Second and Third Divisions.”

Heard is leaving his position as stand-in League boss with former Tory minister Brian Mawhinney taking over. Sheepshanks' election to the board is expected to be ratified at a meeting on Friday.

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