The Linnets, who were ideally hoping for a place in the South, were informed of their fate by Conference officials late on Wednesday afternoon.

Webb said: "It's not what the club wanted, but we will be doing everything possible to go out and win this league. If that wasn't my aim then there wouldn't be any point me being manager.

"Obviously I had transfer targets that were south of King's Lynn, but I also have a list of players in mind who are northern-based."

Of his current squad, many of whom are southern-based, Webb said: "I spoke to the players on Wednesday night and told them that if there was a problem with us going in the Conference North to get back to me by Thursday dinnertime."

Lynn will get their first taste of action up north since their Northern Premier League days of the early 1980s after Conference officials decided to move both Worcester and Redditch down to the South due to their geographical location.

Hucknall Town have also gained a reprieve following the recent demise of Halifax Town.

The Linnets face four trips of more than 200 miles, with a near six-hour haul to Workington the longest at 257 miles.

But Lynn's total mileage of 6,136 miles is 500 less than their travels of last season.

Webb, who has ruled out a move for Boston United utility player Paul Ellender, missed out on his number one target this week when striker Daryl Clare snubbed Lynn for Blue Square Premier outfit Rushden and Diamonds.

Lynn were chasing the prolific Clare, who bagged 28 goals for Nigel Clough's Burton Albion last season, along with a host of other clubs, including both Stevenage Borough and Cambridge United.

More in today's Lynn News.