where s the proof? AGM hem!! For full list of participants see page 9

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1 WELSH PREMIER TIMES Issue 01//Rhiif 01 10//06//14 Match-fixing d allegations where s the proof? The FAW and the WPL have released statements following the Federbet report to the European Commission last week. Despite this the press in Wales have already declared the clubs guilty by the nature of their reporting. The press release stated: The Football Association of Wales and Welsh Premier League are aware of an article that has been published today (4 June) by The Telegraph in relation to a report compiled by Federbet and presented to the European Parliament yesterday. The Federbet report alleges that two Welsh Premier League matches were fixed during the 2013/2014 season: Bala Town v Gap Connah s Quay Port Talbot Town v Carmarthen Town The FAW has not received any communication or information from Federbet in relation to the matches detailed in their report. Through its membership with UEFA, the FAW uses the world s leading supplier of match monitoring in the fight against betting-related match fixing. Every Welsh Premier League match is monitored by our integrity partners, who will immediately inform the FAW of any suspicions of match fixing, should the occasion arise. Throughout the 2013/2014 season, the FAW requested several spot-checks on matches in Wales, which incidentally included the matches detailed above. The report received from the FAW s integrity partners, earlier in the season, suggested that no manipulation occurred in these matches. The FAW also has a good working relationship with the Sports Betting Intelligence Unit at the Gambling Commission, who have not received any information from betting operators in relation to the matches detailed in the Federbet report. Official Newsletter of the Corbett Sports Welsh Premier League AGM hem!! For full list of participants see page 9 The FAW takes betting, integrity and match fixing matters extremely seriously and following a comprehensive risk assessment of Welsh football in 2013, undertaken by integrity experts, has revised its Rules that will become effective from 1st August 2014 onwards. Every registered player in Wales will be made aware of the revised Rules and sign their understanding of them upon registering for their clubs during the 2014/2015 season. The FAW is currently finalising a proactive education programme that will be launched and delivered to its football clubs from the commencement of the 2014/2015 season onwards. The FAW and Welsh Premier League will be contacting Federbet to request any information that they are able to supply and will seek clarification with regards to their methodology in identifying the matches detailed above. Cylchgrawn Swyddogol Uwchgynghrair Corbett Sports Cymru

2 Post Federbet statement from Bala Town: Following the recent Federbet report presented to the European Parliament regarding the match between Bala Town FC and Gap Connah s Quay, Bala Town FC would like to make the following official statement. Bala Town FC are absolutely astounded that such an allegation has been made in this report. The match in question actually took place on Friday, 13th December 2013 and not 14th as reported. There has been no contact from Federbet with any Official at Bala Town FC regarding this allegation. We as a Club have a zero tolerance policy with regard to any form of betting by players or officials. We would welcome any information from Federbet that justifies such an allegation and would react immediately to any evidential information that might be provided. The Club will not be making any further statements about this report until it receives clarification on the allegation from the official authorities. and from gap Connah s Quay: Further to the recent Federbet report presented to the European Parliament, gap Connah's Quay Nomads would like to make the following official statement. We read with absolute amazement the claims that a match involving gap Connah's Quay Nomads and Bala Town was subject to a match fixing investigation. We deny all knowledge of any allegations and welcome any further information that justifies such a claim. and from Port Talbot Town: Port Talbot Town is hugely surprised to learn that one of last season s matches has been mentioned in a report into match-fixing. The club would like to stress categorically that it is not and has never been involved in such activities. Like the overwhelming majority of the football world, it considers any form of corruption completely and utterly unacceptable. At Port Talbot we pride ourselves on our integrity, said chief executive Andrew Edwards. Any suggestion of match-fixing is extremely serious and potentially very damaging, and as a football club we treat it with the utmost severity. We have absolutely nothing to hide and welcome any investigation, which the club would fully assist. And finally Carmarthen Town: We read with great surprise the report which associated Carmarthen Town's name with alleged match-fixing. In fact, it was with absolute amazement that we read the claims that a match involving Port Talbot Town and Carmarthen (played on December 14) was subject to a match fixing investigation. We deny all knowledge of any allegations and welcome any further information that justifies such a claim. In the meantime, we will await a statement from the Football Association of Wales on the next steps in the matter. There has been no contact from Federbet with any Official at Carmarthen Town regarding this allegation. We as a Club have a zero tolerance policy with regard to any form of betting by players or officials. We would welcome any information from Federbet that justifies such an allegation. The Club will not be making any further statements about this report until it receives clarification on the allegation from the official authorities

3 Corbett Sports Welsh Premier League Annual General Meeting 2014 Secretary s report People say that the second year of any project or commitment is the most challenging and my second season at the privileged helm of the Corbett Sports Welsh Premier league has certainly been challenging and rewarding in equal measures. Off the field I d like to thank everyone associated with our member clubs for their positive efforts to promote the clubs and the League - and on the pitch I must congratulate The New Saints for securing their third consecutive League title. I m sure that you ll join me in wishing the best of luck to TNS, Airbus UK, Bangor City and Aberystwyth in Europe over the coming weeks I must also thank Match Officials for their commitment and endeavours during another hard-fought campaign. Whilst I m obviously sad to lose Afan Lido from the WPL, I warmly welcome Cefn Druids to the Premier League again and look forward to working with club officials before and during the season. Through no fault of their own the introduction of the Druids further confirms the North Wales geographical dominance in our League and I am hoping that the FAW s Governance Review will assist the necessary healthy flow of teams between the Feeder Leagues and our National League in the near future. The FAW has certainly backed our League practically this year with the 3G dream becoming a reality for Bangor, Newtown and Airbus. Other projects are in the pipeline of course and while I accept that 3G isn t everyone s cup of tea I am proud that the FAW is helping clubs to help themselves. The current Super 12 format isn t to everyone s liking either but while I accept that there are certain issues with things as they stand I firmly believe that playing standards have improved since the format has been introduced. We have to work together as clubs and officials to come up with practical ideas which will further enhance the League which is so dear to us all. For a second consecutive season we have had registration & disciplinary issues which have threatened the beginning of the second phase of the season. New proposals will hopefully minimise the chance of it happening for a third time next year. The dirty finger of gambling and match fixing has been pointed at our League recently of course. While I am very confident that there is no substance to the recent allegations, there is no question that this footballing cancer has ruined a number of leagues across the world. We have a collective responsibility and obligation not to allow this to happen to our National League. If we don t, we won t have a National League of any worth or substance. There are good stories to report of course. A year ago Rhys Healey was playing for Gap Connah s Quay and he has now represented Cardiff City in the Barclays Premier League and the Capital One Cup. Aaron Hassell is another product of the WPL Academy System and it is great to see Airbus giving another talented youngster the opportunity to shine. It s only a matter of time before more clubs come knocking on respective WPL doors. We have a lot to be positive about in our League but a lot of negative publicity still surrounds us occasionally. It is up to us officials and clubs to promote the positives and not to concentrate on the negatives. How can we expect media outlets to wax lyrical about us when we air our dirty laundry in public and concentrate on the negatives? Finally I would like to thank Peter Rees and the other WPL Panel members for their hard work and support during the season. I would like to reserve a special thank you to Ken Hughes who will be standing down after over a decade of service. Ken has always spoken his mind and done the best for Welsh Football as a whole. Thank you Ken, and thank you to everyone who will work hard again over the summer months and next season to promote the Welsh Premier League.

4 CLUB NEWS ABERYSTWYTH TOWN Aberystwyth Town can confirm three pre season friendlies arranged in preparation for July's Europa League matches. On Saturday 21st July (ko 2.30pm), the Black and Greens will host Cymru Alliance outfit Porthmadog at Park Avenue. The following Tuesday, 24th July (ko 7.45PM), Town will visit Nantporth to face Bangor City, and then on Saturday 28th July (ko 3pm), Corbettsports Welsh Premier League Champions The New Saints visit Park Avenue. Meanwhile, ticket arrangements for Aberystwyth Town's home Europa League game will be announced next Tuesday morning on atfc.org.uk. AIRBUS UK BROUGHTON website. BALA TOWN Last week award winning Bancroft Amenities returned to carry out the annual pitch renovation programme at Maes Tegid. Despite the wettest winter on record in Wales, our pitch seems to of held out better than most this season. It recovered well after atrocious playing conditions and torrential rainfall to end the season looking healthy, green and showing very little wear. With all the above taken in to account, it has been decided that we will only be disc slit seeding and summer feeding the pitch in the current close season. The six yard boxes have already been turfed owing to us having 3 prestigious, earlier than usual home pre-season friendlies against AFC Telford Utd, Wrexham AFC & Blackburn Rovers FC. Our winter maintenance programme will be a little more comprehensive this year, when we hope to be able to Earthquake the pitch in the autumn to de-compact and further improve drainage. 80 tonnes of Silica sand will then be spread and drag mated in again to improve drainage and take some of the stickiness off the playing surface. A winter fertiliser will also be spread to encourage deeper root growth whilst the grass on top stops growing in the colder conditions. BANGOR CITY 150KB) CARMARTHEN TOWN Universities CEFN DRUIDS Cefn Druids has signed two-time former FA Youth Cup winner Dave Roberts from Prestatyn Town. The goalkeeper, 25, has had two spells at Bastion Gardens and spent part of last season on loan at Bangor City, before agreeing to join Druids. Roberts won the FA Youth Cup with Liverpool in 2006 and 2007 before having brief spells with Bangor and then-conference Premier side Weymouth. He returned to Wales in 2008 and signed for Aberystwyth Town. Roberts then moved on to Newtown in 2010 after an initial loan spell before moving to Prestatyn for the first time a year later only to return to Latham Park twelve months after. Last season Roberts was part of the Prestatyn squad that reached the second qualifying round in the Europa League after a first round penalties win over Latvian side Metalurgs. He said: I m happy to be joining Cefn Druids. I know a couple of the lads already and I m looking forward to getting back and enjoying my football. I think there s a good squad coming together and we ll be working hard together to be competitive and challenging.

5 Roberts added: I have had some good experiences in my career from winning the Youth Cup twice and playing in the Welsh Cup Final in my first season with Aberystwyth. Playing in front of 10,000 people in Croatia last season with Prestatyn was fantastic and will always be one of my highlights. Hopefully I will be able to replicate that, and, if we have a good season, it could be done here. The goalkeeper concluded: I m really looking forward to the new season with Cefn Druids. gap CONNAH S QUAY No news yet. NEWTOWN AFC With on-going exciting developments at Latham Park and to support on field ambitions, Newtown Football Club continue their plans for growth by investing in a Business Development Manager to help drive forward plans and developments off the pitch. Paul Lewis (left) will start the position this week and is excited to join the club having been impressed with their vision and aspirations. Being a passionate sports person, especially football and in having been impressed with the Club s plans for growth on and off the field, I am excited to undertake the role that will help the Club become more sustainable and professional in their output, and importantly, developing Newtown F.C and Latham Park as a strong community focus and hub. The club has put in a great deal of hard work over the years and just recently, have been involved in a major statement for growth, by investing in and presently installing a state of the art 3G artificial pitch at Latham Park. This facility will be a valuable resource to support on and off field aspirations that are sustainable and real, as well as providing a valuable resource for communities that will provide enjoyment, participation benefits and improved sports performance. Having studied and worked previously within high profile higher educational establishments namely Cardiff Metropolitan University and Glyndŵr University for over 15 years, Paul has held Senior Management positions associated with facility operations, business development and commercial services. From previous roles within multi-facility sites that need to deliver commercial and developmental success, it was important that I became multi-faceted in a number of business critical areas. The experience and expertise I have gained from past roles within Sport, leisure, education and business development will stand me in good stead to deliver club plans and aspirations. I am looking forward to the challenge and have no doubt the potential and ambition can be realised Anyone needing to contact Paul in regards to facility hire, sponsorship and advertising opportunities or business development proposals with the club, please contact him at office@newtownafc.co.uk or ring weeks. PORT TALBOT TOWN PORT Talbot have continued planning for next season by re-signing another two key players in Martin Rose and Jason Bertorelli. Experienced striker Rose and fellow forward Bertorelli have both committed to the Steelmen for the campaign. Rose moved from Welsh League outfit Taffs Well to Llanelli in November 2004 and went on to have a spell with Cardiff Grange Quins. After playing in the Welsh League for Bettws, Rose joined Port Talbot for the first time in 2006 and had six successful seasons with the Steelmen. He returned to Llanelli in June 2012 before heading back to the GenQuip Stadium in January A product of the Port Talbot academy, Bertorelli played for head coach Jarred Harvey at Cambrian & Clydach before returning to the Steelmen after almost a decade away earlier this year. It s great to have Rosey and Bertorelli committing to the club, said Harvey. Rosey is a player I ve admired since arriving here and believe he is still one of the best strikers in the Welsh Premier League. For such a big guy he s extremely mobile and technically very good. Martin is another current Port Talbot player who has attracted a lot of attention from other clubs, so it is testament to him and the club that he has decided to stay. I m thrilled to have the opportunity to work with him again this season. I m hoping Berty can recapture the form he produced whilst playing in the Welsh League and become a top Welsh Premier League player.

6 I use the word potential as Berty has lots of it. He s an extremely quick, tricky player who has a real eye for goal. Now he s fully recovered from knee surgery, an issue which plagued him for the duration of last season, there s no reason why he can t get back to playing his best football for Port Talbot. We are almost done as far as recruitment is concerned. It is important that when you re at a rebuilding stage your player recruitment plan is in place and you act quickly, especially when clubs with more resources are seeking your players signatures.. PRESTATYN TOWN team affairs' RHYL FC THE NEW SAINTS FC The New Saints Football Club have announced three pre-season friendlies. The New Saints will once again travel over to Northern Ireland to play Danske Bank Champions Cliftonville on Saturday the 5th of July. The fixture at Solitude will kick off at 18:30pm. It will provide both teams with the ideal match preparation prior to our opening UEFA Champions League game on either 15th or 16th July commented Saints boss Craig Harrison. The Saints have also arranged UEFA Champions League warm up games against fellow Welsh Premier League teams Cefn Druids and Aberystwyth Town. The friendly between recently promoted Cefn Druids will take place at Park Hall stadium on Tuesday the 24th of June and will kick off at 19:45pm. The fixture against Aberystwyth Town will be played at Park Avenue and is scheduled for a 15:00pm kick off on Saturday the 28th of June.. The New Saints Football Club will take on Ellesmere Rangers in the first round of the Shropshire Senior Cup. The tie which will be played before the 31st of August, will be played at Ellesmere s Beech Grove stadium. The Saints went out of the competition in the first round after losing to Market Drayton Town at the Greenfields Sports Ground. The winners will take on Shrewsbury Town at the Greenhous Meadow in the semi-final on or before the 31st of October. Market Drayton will host AFC Telford in the other semi-final clash.

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8 Compiled by Mel Thomas at Soccerfile Wales Tel/Fax: Distributed by only from WPL, 11 / 12 Neptune Court, Cardiff CF24 5PJ Contact: Lucy Kelly via lkelly@faw.co.uk or