Oxford United, and their fellow third division clubs, will be better off to the tune of £50,000 at the start of each of the next five seasons following an agreement reached to increase promotion and relegation from the Conference to the Football League to two teams.

The financial package helps to offset the amount Division 3 clubs are set to lose following the collapse of ITV Digital.

But United will want to ensure they have a far better campaign than last season when they finished in 21st place in Division 3, and only two points above second-from-bottom Bristol Rovers.

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. It was formally ratified at Saturday's Football League annual meeting.

Under the new format, the champions of the Conference will automatically go up to the third division, as before, while the next four teams in the Conference will face a knockout competition.

However, any Conference club whose ground fails to meet the Nationwide League criteria would miss out, even if they finish as champions.

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