There will be no reprieve for the clubs in the relegation zones at the end of the season because the Northern League management committee has decided not to forcibly relegate any clubs - and that could be bad news for Consett and Easington.

The League carried out ground inspections of more than half of its clubs earlier this month and decided all are up to standard, plus those of Ryton and Darlington RA, leaders of the Northern Alliance and Wearside Leagues respectively.

First Division Thornaby were considered to be most at risk, but recent ground improvements are deemed enough to keep them in the top flight. Similarly, Hebburn were in trouble in the second division, but their ground has been passed.

The decision means that three clubs will be relegated from the first and three promoted from the second, while two will be relegated from the second to the feeder leagues providing Ryton and Darlington RA finish in promotion positions.

League chairman Mike Amos said: "The whole of the league was wondering what we would do with Thornaby, but over the past month they have worked very hard on the hospitality room, the dressing rooms and hardstanding.

"It is much improved. People thought that we might comment on the terracing that has crumbled away but ground requirements no longer require terracing. As long as the affected side is cordoned off and made safe, then that it is satisfactory."

The decision means the league might be relegating two clubs, Willington plus one from Easington, Hebburn and Evenwood, to its feeder leagues for the first time.

Consett, third bottom in the First Division face relegation unless they climb out of danger. Tow Law, West Auckland and Brandon are the other clubs worried.

Former Durham manager Andy Toman admitted he was "flabbergasted" at being relieved of his duties on Friday evening by chairman Stewart Dawson.

"It was completely unexpected," he said. "Stewart admitted that I'd done nothing wrong. He said when I took over that results didn't matter for the rest of the season, and in fact I was building a team for next season - I'd already spoken to 35 players.

"He just said that it wasn't working out between us.

"I still want a job in the Northern League. All I want is a chairman who wants the club to be a successful and not a chairman on an ego trip."

Durham's new management duo of Neil Hixon and Graeme Clark were equally taken aback by the speed of events, but they suffered a quick defeat, losing 2-1 at home to Brandon, who are now six points above third bottom Consett.

Durham started well with Mark Patterson scoring from a Michael Mackay pass, but Brandon slowly got back into the game.

Chris Smith beat three men and pulled the ball back for Craig Coates to score from a couple of yards.

Brandon keeper James Winter, on work experience from Hartlepool United, pulled off a couple of good saves, but Brandon got the winner with five minutes left when Craig Coates was fouled in the area by David Goodchild and Coates beat Kevin Wolfe from the spot.

Brandon are now level on points with West Auckland, but their goal difference is one goal worse after West lost 5-2 at Ashington.

West were caught cold by two goals inside the first ten minutes.

Jon Sunderland scored from a pass by David Carr and then he chipped West keeper Alan Wilkinson from long range. Sunderland then crossed for Alan Hogg to make it 3-0, and after Dale Jardine pulled one back from a Mattie Moffat pass, Derek Attwell made it 4-1 from the edge of the box.

Attwell set up Ross Atkinson for the fifth on 70 minutes before Chris Gillespie scored a late consolation for West, who have just one game left at Benfield Saints this Saturday.

Tow Law are out of the relegation zone after they beat Chester-le-Street 2-0. They took the lead on 19 minutes when Nicky Martin scored from a Phil Brumwell pass.

Tow Law keeper Andrew Spence and Chester keeper Ian Aitken both made good saves. Derek Waters headed an effort off the Tow Law line before they gave themselves some breathing space on 61 minutes when Stephen Tobin headed in a Danny Craggs corner.

In the second division, Washington Nissan are fourth, two points off a promotion spot, after they beat Penrith 3-2.

The Cumbrians took the lead with a 20th minute penalty from Andy Douglas, but Nissan levelled when Anthony Lund headed home a Jon Cullen free-kick.

They went 2-1 up when Johnny Butler and Steve Halliday opened up the Penrith defence for David Tait to score and Butler got the third from a Cullen pass.

Penrith pulled a goal back when Ash sliced a clearance from a Martin Kirkby shot into his own net, but Nissan held on.

Northallerton bounced back after three games without a win by winning 4-0 at Kennek Ryhope CA. Craig Skelton gave them the lead when he scored from a left wing pass by Dom Gamble, and he got the second on 55 minutes from a Stephen Roberts pass.

Craig Winter headed a third and Skelton dribbled through to complete his hat-trick.

Seaham Red Star won 2-1 at Marske United. Seaham took the lead with a header by Robert Swann from a David Johnson corner, but Marske levelled with a Peter Boldison penalty.

Seaham won thanks to a solo effort from Craig Hubbard on 61 minutes, when he dribbled past two men and fired past the Marske keeper.

Second-bottom Easington beat managerless South Shields 4-1.

They went 3-0 up with goals by Chris Basford and Mike Hardy (two), and after Colin Nesbitt pulled a goal back for Shields with a 35-yard free-kick, Andrew Clark made certain.

Shields manager Neil Hixon quit on Friday for the Durham job and his assistant, Stuart Gooding, quit Shields after the game on Saturday.

Easington are now two points behind Hebburn, and have played the same number of games.