FLEET Town could be set for a return to the Wessex League should their relegation from the Southern League be confirmed by the Football Association.

The Hampshire outfit, beaten 1-0 by leaders St Neots Town on Saturday, are 10 points adrift in Division One Central with just two games remaining.

Fleet, who were crowned Wessex League champions in 1995, could replace this season’s title-winners Winchester City in the Premier Division.

Wessex League officials are understood to be hoping to keep their top flight at 22 clubs, with Fleet the likely candidates to drop down should Winchester’s promotion be ratified.

At the bottom of the Wessex Premier, the battle to avoid joining already-relegated Laverstock & Ford is intensifying.

No fewer than six clubs – New Milton, Brading, Hayling United, Blackfield & Langley, Fawley and Horndean – are involved, with the fight likely to go to the wire.

Hayling’s 2-1 win over Alresford on Saturday was their sixth victory in their past 10 games, the Humbugs having started the season with just two wins in their first 23.

The triumph saw them climb out of the bottom two and plunged New Milton to second from bottom – with the teams set to meet at Hayling College on the final day of the season. The Linnets’ penultimate match takes them to Fareham in four days’ time.

Hayling also leapfrogged Brading – victims of an 8-0 hiding from Winchester City on Saturday – with the Islanders hosting Lymington and Hamworthy in their final two games.

Fawley and Blackfield & Langley go head to head at the Waterside Sports & Social Club on Friday, with Fawley travelling to Moneyfields on the final day and Blackfield hosting Bemerton. Horndean close with trips to Downton and Newport.

With two clubs expected to be relegated from the Wessex Premier, the 22-strong quota in the top flight would be completed by Verwood and AFC Portchester.

However, should the FA either choose to relegate Fleet to a different division or hand them a stay, it is possible the third-placed finisher in Wessex One would come up.

A decision also needs to be made by the FA as to whether Wessex One strugglers Warminster’s application to cross the pyramid to the Western League will be accepted.

All promotion and relegation issues are subject to FA approval.