FREED Morecambe youngster Leon Smith is set to join former team-mate Steve Walters at Stevenage Borough.

The 21 year old academy graduate joins the ambitious former conference champion after being released by Shrimps boss Jim Harvey two weeks ago.

Stevenage are one of several clubs who are spending serious money on the chase for promotion to the football league.

Like all conference clubs the Shrimps have been boosted by the news that a second promotion place to the football league now looks like a realistic possibility.

The idea of a second promotion spot has been backed in principle by most football league clubs though -- perhaps tellingly -- former conference champions Kidderminster were against it.

Hopes remain that the new system will take shape from this season, though the thorny issue of parachute payments (payments to relegated clubs to ease the financial loss associated with relegation) is still not resolved, with football league clubs demanding that the conference picks up the tab.

The football league clubs are to meet at the weekend to debate the issue.