U-turn decision has put Bluebirds out of pocket (From Western Telegraph)

U-turn decision has put Bluebirds out of pocket

11:58am Wednesday 22nd August 2012 in Sport

UEFA and Wales Football Association has bizarrely made a U-turn decision that is likely to cost Haverfordwest County Football Club several thousand pounds.

Earlier in the year, Haverfordwest County was told officially that they had been awarded three UEFA Ladies Under-19 tournament games that are due to take place next year. The club is no stranger to hosting international football matches and has been praised on many occasions in the past by the FAW.

Everything in the garden was looking rosy as club officials, supporters and local businesses excited at the prospect of being involved in holding prestigious internationals at the Conygar Bridge Meadow Stadium. However, the club had heard through the grape vine that they had not been awarded any matches so wrote to the FAW to seek clarification that this was a case. A letter was then received from head of international FAW department Mark Evans, which stated that UEFA and FAW have retracted from their original decision, so the club will not be hosting any matches.

In the letter it stated that UEFA has revised its advice to the FAW on the matter of host stadia and has judged that the New Bridge Meadow Stadium is too distant from tournament hotels.

Haverfordwest County commercial director David Hughes said: "This letter caught us completely by surprise and this decision is a kick in the teeth. The Bluebirds were in the initial stages of having plans drawn up for building a new media centre at the ground, which they were told they would benefit from a ground improvement grant on the strength of hosting tournament games.

"These plans are in the hands of surveyors and engineers who have been working on the project. We owe them several thousand pounds that will leave us at out pocket at no fault of our own," added Hughes.

"We want to host this tournament. We need the FAW and UEFA to reconsider this bizarre decision.

"Once an agreement has been made there should be no turning back. This well organised football club bas been badly hurt and embarrassed."

The FAW was given the opportunity to comment but had not responded at time of going to press.