Club delegates debated the possibility of splitting into a two-division system but opted to remain with the existing Premiership format with the addition of a new Cup competition being played mid-season.
Featherstone Rovers Director Richard Evans, a member of the Strategic Planning Football Focus Group was mandated to take the APC’s recommendation to the Committee’s meeting on Tuesday, the day before a key meeting of the Rugby League Council in Leeds.
Deputy chairman Steve Wagner said: “While the APC members supported the principle of restructuring the competitions they felt that, without the reduction in Super League membership, splitting the 19-team competition was not going to be viable."
Mr Evans was however mandated go along with the whole of the Strategic Plan divisional split if the Super League clubs agreed to reduce to a ten-club competition.
“They are supportive of the Committee’s plan as laid down in the latest document put up for debate."
Their decision to seek approval for retaining the status quo and adding in a National League Cup competition will enable them to go along with the Strategic Planning Committee’s plan to integrate the two league seasons in 2003 because the APC members will kick off in December and play through to either late August or September next year.”
He added: “The APC members were also keen to adopt the Committee’s proposal to introduce a National League Cup because they felt that it was important to have another competition available besides the league and Challenge Cup tournaments to clubs outside the Tetley’s Super League.”