WREXHAM will receive an additional £50,000 a season for up to five years for as long as they remain in the Division Three following an historic vote at the Football League's annual meeting in London.

The money, part of a £6million package from the Football Association, is a 'sweetener' which encouraged the League's 72 clubs to accept a two-up, two-down promotion and relegation system between the third division and the Nationwide Conference.

The financial package, worth up to £250,000 for the cash-strapped third division clubs, is a compensatory scheme designed to support clubs that could be relegated from the League into the Conference.

Each season the two prompted Cpnference clubs will receive £35,000 and parachute payments for the two relegated clubs will continue for the further 12 months following their demise.

Racecourse managing director David Rhodes said last night the agreement could not have come at a more opportune time.

"It was a development that had to come in once the financial solution had been sorted out and it's a major boost to clubs such as ourselves," he said.

"This money is in addition to the annual Football League disbursement to clubs, not that this is anything to shout about this season because of the collapse of the television deal. So it's a very welcome sum of money for us."

Football League chief executive David Burns said: "Twelve months ago this step was rejected because of the absence of a suitable financial package.

"I am very glad to say that this is no longer the case and I would like to thank the FA for the role they played in bringing this matter to a successful conclusion."

In another change to the rule next season, League clubs will be able to take up eight players on loan, twice the previous number, and five can be named in a 16-strong match-day squad, compared with two before.

At any stage of the season, clubs will be allowed four long-term loans and four short-term.

The plan was approved because of the financial pressures on League clubs, who will have to wait for the outcome of a legal battle to determine their claim for the payment of television rights money following the collapse of ITV Digital.

The Football League goes to court next month to sue ITV Digital owners, Granada and Carlton, for the outstanding £178m owned under the terms of the original contract.