NAME SAGA AT GROUND NEARLY OVER

1 June 2005

The long-running drama over what to call Swansea's new £27 million stadium could be over by the end of the month. Bosses of the eye-catching new facility in Morfa say talks with private companies over naming rights are going well and that they expect to be able to make an announcement at the end of the month.

It will end the saga of what the stadium will be called - much to the relief of fans.

The new stadium will be the home for both Swansea City Football Club and the Ospreys.Both teams are currently on a high with the Swans newly promoted to Coca-Cola League One and the Ospreys Celtic League champions.

Stadium bosses are confident of giving the teams a name for their new home.A spokesman for StadCo, the stadium management company, confirmed that progress was being made with the talks.

He said: "Negotiations with companies are ongoing.

"We are still looking to make an announcement around the end of June."

Marilyn Croft, of the Swans Supporters Trust, said she was pleased there was finally light at the end of the tunnel.

She said: "I suppose I just hope that the chosen company is in keeping with a family-based stadium.

"I think there is a mix of reaction among fans. Some want a good name to go forward but a lot of people would like the name Vetch incorporated in it to link our past with our future."

Fans have been in limbo since last July over what the name their new home would have.The council announced it would no longer be using the working title White Rock which had proved hugely popular with fans.

It said that a clean slate was needed to help attract companies interested in taking on the naming rights and that it should be referred to simply as Swansea's new stadium.

Fans called for a rethink but the title White Rock was cast aside.

Mrs Croft said: "There are fans who like White Rock and still use the name, it was very popular with some.

"Whatever the final name for the 20,500-capacity ground is, it can be sure of a rousing welcome when it opens this summer.

Sales of Swans season tickets have been going extremely well with more than 6,400 sold already - 3,000 more than the previous record.

Mrs Croft said: "We are counting down the days. I think the level of support has been marvellous because it shows really the promise that the club has for the future.

"I think it helped that we went up a division. I think a lot of people want to be part of the whole thing."

And she added: "It is a new era, a new stadium and we all hope the team can do well."