Almanack: Save the Wales

THE heartless European Parliament has turned down a petition from Caernarfon Town, Colwyn Bay and Newport AFC which asked the Eurocrats to force the FA of Wales to allow the teams to return to their homeland. The three have been forbidden from playing in Wales since 1992, when they snubbed the new League of Wales, preferring to remain within the 'Pyramid' of the English non-league system, at the pinnacle of which lies admission to the Football League.

But they are finding it expensive to play so far from home (Caernarfon at Curzon Ashton, Colwyn Bay at Ellesmere Port, Newport at Gloucester City) and sought sympathy from the Euro MPs. Alas, the Boys from Brussels declined, claiming (as Uefa have before) that the dispute is domestic. Will the FAW now relent? 'Fat chance', says Almanack's mole in the valleys.