The sports industry will discover on Monday whether the long-running saga surrounding the merger of the Institute of Sport and Recreation Management (ISRM), Institute of Leisure and Amenity Management (ILAM) and National Association of Sports Development (NASD) is to continue.

ISRM members will vote on whether they wish to support the merger at the Braunstone Leisure Centre in Leicester, following a controversial recommendation from the ISRM Board of Trustees to reject the plans.

The decision has drawn criticism from ILAM, NASD and sports minister, Richard Caborn, who has voiced "considerable concern, frustration and disappointment" at the recommendation.

The debate surrounding the amalgamation of the three organisations to form a single professional body for the sports industry began in October 2004.

The ISRM Board decided at the end of April this year to reject the proposals, citing problems with the new body's business plan, the potential location of its office, and the sale of ILAM House as reasons to back out of the deal.

In an open letter, the independent chair of the development board, Carole Hassan, said: "ISRM has erred on the side of calculating the risks and not weighing them with the opportunity." She adds that finance, one of the sticking points raised by the Board of Trustees, "was not said to be an issue until I was notified of ISRM's decision to recommend 'no'."

ISRM has responded to Hassan's letter, saying: "The Trustees of ISRM are disappointed by the remarks made by Carole," adding: "Whilst others are perfectly entitled to their point of view they do not have the same legal responsibility for their actions as is borne by the Trustees." Details: www.isrm.co.uk, www.culture.gov.uk, www.nasd.uk.com, www.ilam.co.uk