Rotherham have taken their case to the Office of Fair Trading after being denied promotion to the Zurich Premiership.

England Rugby Limited told the club its Clifton Lane ground did not meet the required standard and rejected its plans to share with Rotherham United Football Club.

The Division One champions have the support of Sittingbourne MP and former England player Derek Wyatt, who raised the issue with the OFT on Monday.

The OFT are going to call for more evidence and I hope within two or three weeks they will give us a ruling Sittingbourne MP Derek Wyatt

Wyatt believes the promotion ruling may have infringed competition laws and has asked the OFT to investigate whether ERL is acting like a cartel.

"It's very important to get a ruling from the OFT because it could affect soccer and cricket and other sports if, as it seems, the franchising game's going to come into being over the next five or ten years," Wyatt told BBC Five Live.

"Myself and Denis MacShane, the MP for Rotherham, met (the OFT) and tried to come to an understanding of the definition of cartel and the economic understanding of a cartel inside the 1998 Competition Act.

"They have gone away now to reflect on what we've given them.

"They are going to call for more evidence and I hope that within two or three weeks they will be able to give us a ruling.

"It's to find out first of all whether what the Premiership does acts like a cartel.

"If they feel it is they will investigate and make a ruling. If it isn't then tough luck and it won't happen."

Rachel Clark, a spokeswoman for the OFT, confirmed talks had taken place.

"We have received a complaint but not yet launched a formal inquiry into this matter," she said.