Welsh Premier League Football - Clubs' dismay at zero grant funding

AT LEAST two Welsh Premier clubs were shocked to learn today they will receive no grant aid towards the cost of achieving the FAW's domestic licence.
Current league leaders The New Saints received a letter from Welsh Grounds Improvement informing the club it had been unsuccessful in its bid for financial assistance towards the estimated £300,000-plus cost of constructing a new 1,000-seater stand, TV studio and TV gantry.
And another top flight club that we are unable to name, but that is virtually guaranteed a top 10 finish, has also discovered it will receive nothing.
A spokesperson for that club said: "Why will club sponsors and investors continue if they can see no help coming from the football authorities?"
TNS general manager Ian Williams confessed he was "dismayed" at the news. The reason given for the rejection was that the club only had a lease for the pitch at Park Hall, not the buildings at The Venue, but Williams totally rejected the claim.
"We have two separate leases - one for the playing area and one for the buildings," he said.
"I question why the Welsh Ground Improvements did not raise this objection a year ago when the Welsh Premier Board recommended that the newly formed body award a £40,000 grant towards the new stand or, indeed, following the first round of grant application consideration back in October."
TNS were subsequently forced to forego last season's grant because planning permission was not in place at the time, the money instead being awarded to Haverfordwest County.
With club owner Mike Harris stepping down from his role as Welsh Premier representative on the FAW Council, TNS say that questions could be asked whether 'other' matters have clouded the decision making process.
"Although their is no appeal process, the club will be delving deeply into the reasons why they did not get any funding support and will take further advice on the matter," continued Williams.
"This will surely add to the number of 'other' unanswered questions that have been posed by Mr Harris during his tenure at the FAW.
"However, we do intend to ensure that Park Hall meets the requirements of the licence so that we can play in the newly structured Welsh Premier next season."
Among clubs that have been successful are Airbus UK Broughton, who have been awarded £65,000, and Porthmadog, who have announced a £24,100 grant towards work at The Traeth.
Bala and Newtown have also received funding, while welsh-premier.com understands that at least one Cymru Alliance club that has not applied for either promotion or a licence is also to receive a five-figure sum.
Photo: TNS general manager Ian Williams with the club's stadium development plans.

Clubs hit by grant funding delay