The prospect of a third promotion place from the Blue Square Premier into the Football League is 'a long, long way off'.

That is the view of the Football Association, the Blue Square Premier and Oxford United - all of whom believe that discussions could take place at some point in the future, but feel it would be difficult to get all parties to agree on an outcome.

In 2002, all Division 3 clubs (as it was at the time) agreed to receive £50,000 at the start of each of the next five seasons to increase promotion and relegation from the Conference to the Football League to two teams.

The historic change, which received the overwhelming support of the 72 member clubs in the Football League, was made possible after the funding package worth £6m was agreed with the FA.

But despite the leagues coming closer and closer in terms of standard, the chances of another promoted team out of the Blue Square Premier looks bleak.

"It is unlikely that idea would be considered for quite some time," said a Blue Square League spokesman.

"To get all the parties to agree would take quite some doing and so it is certainly not something high on our agenda - in fact it hasn't been talked about here for quite some time.

"Maybe in the future we might, but it is a long, long way off at present."

Mick Brown, Oxford United's secretary, added: "Everyone in our league would love there to be an extra promotion place for obvious reasons.

"But by the same token, if you were a League Two club, you have to consider whether you would agree for there to be an extra relegation place."

FA spokesman Matt Phillips said: "If discussions between the parties took place, the FA would get involved, but it would be up to them to agree an outcome."