| Newtown slam newspaper criticism |
| Saturday 22 May 2010 |
 NEWTOWN have slammed an article in Friday's Daily Post and have called on the newspaper to support the new Welsh Premier structure. "I read with some concern an article in a reputable newspaper suggesting that the FAW’s licensing body should have “bent the rules” to forgive Rhyl their financial irregularities and allow them to stay in the League," says secretary Owen Durbridge (pictured). "My club has been slightly critical of some of the licensing process, only in relation to the deadline dates, but we are 100% behind the whole ethos of stadium development and the raising of standards. "Newtown has been the obvious benefactor from the demise of Rhyl, but we consider ourselves to be rightful members of the Welsh Premier League having completed the licensing process to the letter and within time. "I take exception to the fact that the licensing panel be criticised for making what must have been a very difficult decision, to deny Rhyl a licence when they blatantly contravene one of the most important aspects of the process which is financial viability. "I don’t wish to denounce Rhyl, they have been superb over the years, but they have clearly spent beyond their means and probably expected their wealthy benefactor to support them, but without that written support they are technically (according to press reports) in possession of an unsecured debt of quite a considerable amount and the licensing panel were right to refuse them." Durbridge says one has to wonder how close many others are to this position, but whilst their debts are secured, they remain viable. "I see no evidence to suggest the FAW are biased towards South Wales clubs - the actual council may contain a natural bias with more South Wales-based councillors than the North, but the article was implying that the licensing panel was biased - which I think is ridiculous. "Where the FAW have let themselves down is that none of us are clear in what we are doing for next season, how many weeks will it be? "How many fixtures are there to be? Is there to be a Premier Cup again? What format is the League Cup to take? "It is these issues that Andy Legg complained about and, having been at our own board meeting last night, we found it virtually impossible to work out a budget for next season without this information. "The FAW will say that it is up to the AGM on 12th June, but perhaps that is just a little bit late - although I suspect the negotiations with Cardiff City over the Premier Cup is being stalled by their big game this weekend and could well be delaying announcements. "Whether we would have been in or out of the new league format, my club was always prepared to allow the FAW a chance to improve the standing of the WPL and to do that, change of some sort or other, was required." Durbridge also welcomed the increases in prize money promised for next season: "We hear that there is to be double the investment from £100k to £200k from the FAW to run the League, they have added £25k to the Welsh Cup prize pot and are trying to re-introduce the Premier Cup which has been much missed over the last couple of years," he added.  Welsh Premier will be anything but super The full version of Durbridge's comments is on Newtown's website
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