Leading clubs join ranks to put case for Premiership expansion

England's leading professional clubs, in fear of relegation and uncomfortable at the prospect of an independent inquiry into allegations of sharp practice over the Rotherham affair at the end of last season, are to press for a 14-team Premiership next term.

Such a move would see both Rotherham and Worcester, the two outstanding teams in National Division One, come up, and, rather more importantly from the existing top flight's perspective, no one go down.

If the Rugby Football Union cannot deliver on 14 – the other 12 clubs in ND1 would demand reassurances about the maintenance of an open door between the two leagues – the Premiership teams would settle for a 13-team competition, followed by a one-up, none-down arrangement for the 2003-04 season. That would buy time to pursue a more radical franchise-based deal along the lines suggested by Nigel Wray, the Saracens owner, and Rob Andrew, the Newcastle director of rugby.

Wray said during the week that the controversy surrounding alleged moves to set up a slush fund aimed at buying off Rotherham, who won the ND1 title last season and would have been promoted had they met criteria covering stadium facilities, had at least restored the relegation issue to the centre of rugby's political debate.

A number of leading figures in the professional club movement, including the Leicester chief executive, Peter Wheeler, believe the Premiership should consider expansion if ambitious, strongly-financed outsiders present a sufficiently strong case for inclusion.

Despite the view that the domestic fixture list is already bulging at the seams, there is some slack in the programme. At present, there is no Premiership activity on the five Six Nations weekends. While coaches and directors of rugby are reluctant to play important matches without their international personnel, the removal of the relegation threat and the financial incentive of two additional home games would change their point of view.

Cecil Duckworth, the Worcester owner who lifted the lid on the slush fund allegations and presented his evidence to the RFU on Wednesday, believes an expanded Premiership is already being discussed, albeit unofficially. "Sport is about promotion and relegation and I believe the principle should be protected," he said. "But some restructuring might be sensible, because there is no doubt a Premiership side going down would take a massive financial hit.

"Various people are clearly thinking along expansionist lines and it may well be a sensible way forward. I certainly wouldn't object, for obvious reasons, and it may well be that something comes of it. What rugby does not need are wheezes and secret incentives and back-door payments whenever the threat of relegation comes around. That sort of thing does the sport no good whatsoever."

Graeme Cattermole, the RFU chairman, is expected to announce an independent inquiry into Duckworth's claims early next week.