WALES STADIUM MATCH THREAT

7 April 2005

Wales's planned friendly with Slovenia at Swansea's new stadium looks like being scrapped because of a row over ticketing. And there will be little chance of any international football coming to the 20,000 all-seater in Morfa in the future unless the dispute can be sorted out.

John Toshack's side had been pencilled in to play the Slovenians in August to mark the opening of Wales's new second stadium.

But the EVENING POST understands the Football Association of Wales are poised to abandon the Swansea game and search for an alternative friendly match elsewhere.

The FAW are angry over demands made by StadCo, the company created to manage the new stadium on behalf of Swansea Council, Swansea City and the Ospreys.

It is believed StadCo has asked for 85 per cent of gate receipts, which is beyond what the FAW are prepared to give.

Welsh football chiefs are also opposed to StadCo's request to control the sale of tickets, thought to have been made because of the company's commitment to Premier Club members who have been promised entry to every event the arena hosts.

No-one at the FAW was available for comment this morning, though a spokesman told the Evening Post last month that the game could be under threat because of a disagreement over where proceeds would go.

Meanwhile Fulham will play at the stadium in Alan Curtis's testimonial in what could be the opening game.Former Swan Chris Coleman, now manager at Craven Cottage, has agreed to bring his side back to his home city on July 23.

The game will be treated as a serious warm-up for the new season, and the Premiership outfit are expected to bring a first-team squad to South Wales just 48 hours before they fly out for a pre-season trip to America.

That means the likes of Andy Cole, Luis Boa Morte and Edwin Van der Sar should all be involved.

The home side are unlikely to field any special guests though Curtis, who has served Swansea for most of the last three decades, hopes to play some part.

As yet it is unclear how many fans will be allowed in for the match because of safety regulations which state that new stadiums should gradually build towards hosting a capacity crowd, as happened at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium.

It could be that another game is arranged beforehand, possibly against Bristol City, to allow a bigger crowd for Curtis's testimonial.

The Fulham fixture is the only one so far confirmed in Swansea's pre-season programme, which is not expected to include a tour of Holland for the first time in four years because of the move away from Vetch Field.

The club are refusing to reveal further details of their plans at the moment, though it is understood they are hoping to host a major game at their new home the weekend before the new season gets underway.

Swansea fans are reminded that Saturday's trip to Lincoln City is pay on the day for travelling fans.

Tickets for the meeting with Oxford United a week tomorrow - the last floodlit game at the Vetch - are selling well and supporters are advised to buy now for all parts of the ground.

With all home tickets for the final league match on April 30 now sold, visitors Shrewsbury are only selling their 1,000 allocation to Shrews fans who live in the Shropshire area. No postal applications are being considered.

PLEDGE OVER NAME FOR NEW STADIUM

6 April 2005

A Number of companies are looking at sponsoring Swansea's new £27 million stadium, according to bosses. But they insist the success or failure of Swansea Football Club's promotion push will not affect any deal.

The club are currently in third place fighting for automatic promotion to Coca-Cola Division One.

But bosses at StadCo, the company managing the stadium, say the result of their fight will not affect their search for a sponsor for the 20,200-seat ground.

They say the negotiations for the deal are still ongoing and have denied that sponsors are holding back to see which league the Swans will be playing in next season before putting pen to paper.

A spokesman for StadCo said: "The naming rights package is a great opportunity for a brand to play a long-term role in one of Europe's finest new stadiums.

"If Swansea City do gain promotion then obviously it would be a fantastic boost for both the city and the new stadium.

"However, it is a long-term proposition which isn't based on one season of success.

"There are a number of brands who are already interested in taking the naming rights, regardless of the Swans' promotion fortunes."

Stadium bosses are hoping to have a main sponsor in place by the end of June.Work is nearing completion on the facility which will be ready to welcome the Swans and the Neath-Swansea Ospreys to their new home next season.

A high-profile curtain raiser is being planned by representatives from both clubs and the council, who make up the management company.

A number of big names from the worlds of football and rugby have been linked with the event at the stadium with, as yet, no name.

Councillor Gerald Clement, the cabinet member for culture, recreation and tourism, is confident naming rights for the ground will be secured soon.

The Ospreys have already been crowned champions but stadium bosses say whether or not the Swans follow their lead and gain promotion, the deal for naming rights will go ahead.

The spokesman said: "The negotiations with interested brands are ongoing.

"We are still looking at a figure of approximately £250,000 per season for a brand to obtain the stadium's naming rights."