Swansea City striker Mamady Sidibe will return to full training next week but has not recovered in time for the visit of Rushden & Diamonds.

The Frenchman suffered a nasty gash in his ankle during the LDV Vans Trophy defeat to Brighton but he is now close to a return to Colin Addison's squad.

Defender Lee Jenkins remains on the sidelines with ankle ligament damage but right-back Terry Evans could make his debut after moving to Vetch Field from League of Wales champions Barry Town.

Evans, who spent six years at Jenner Park after leaving Cardiff City, said: "I have gained a lot of European experience with Barry, and it has developed me as a player.

"I was hoping to get back into League football, but it has taken me a bit longer than I expected." Calf problem

Kristian O'Leary serves the second game of his two-match ban and will again be missing from the Swans' backline when they face Brian Talbot's side.

But Jason Smith and Damien Lacey both return to the squad after long battles against injury. Rushden & Diamonds boss Brian Talbot has two injury doubts.

Andy Burgess aggravated a calf problem in Saturday's 3-1 win over Mansfield and is set to miss out while Paul Underwood may also be an absentee.

On loan striker Caleb Folan is set to play his last game for the Diamonds as his month-long loan from Leeds expires after the match.

Scott Partridge, who scored his first goal for the Diamonds in the Mansfield victory, is expected to lead the attack along with Duane Darby.

SWANSEA CITY have been invited to keep teenage striker Nathan Tyson for the rest of the season, writes Ian Hunt.

Tyson - whose start at Swansea was blighted by injury - has just started the third month of his loan spell from second division Reading.

But Royals manager Alan Pardew believes the 19-year-old could benefit from staying at the Vetch Field for the rest of the campaign.

"Maybe he can stay there the whole year if all parties are happy," said Pardew. "I certainly don't think that it would do him any harm."

Swansea, meanwhile, have turned down an approach from Queens Park Rangers for long-serving goalkeeper Roger Freestone.

Rangers wanted to take Freestone to Loftus Road after their No 1 goal-keeper, Chris Day, fractured his tibia and fibula against Oldham Athletic last Saturday and was ruled out for the rest of the season.

Freestone - who could have doubled his wages two weeks ago by agreeing a £60,000 move to Premier-ship club Bolton Wanderers - is happy at Swansea despite the club's current problems.

The Wales goalkeeper has a testimonial planned for the end of the season against his former club Chelsea.

Two of Freestone's former Swansea team-mates, Jason Price and Christian Edwards, were both hoping to resolve their futures last night.

Defender Jason Price is in discussions with Brentford chairman Ron Noades about a new contract after making an impact at Griffin Park.

Price, who left the Vetch at the end of last season, has been impressive in his 18 appearances for the second division leaders and scored his first goal, the winner, in the 2-1 league victory at Reading on Saturday.

The 24-year-old is hoping to agree a new deal after his three-month contract expired on Wednesday.

Bryan Flynn, who was dismissed as Wrexham manager after 12 years in September, has denied suggestions that he is interested in filling the vacant managerial post at Stockport.

Flynn said, "The advice I've been given is take three months off, if you can, and enjoy it, because 12 years is a long time."

Juan Sebastian Veron has been cleared to play for Manchester United in their crunch Premiership clash with Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday.

World governing body Fifa have ruled that the Argentine midfield player should be allowed to turn out for United before jetting to South America for his country's World Cup qualifier against Peru.

It had been thought that under the five-day rule, Veron would be unavailable for the weekend fixtures because of the final round of qualifying matches on November 7.

But because of the late confirmation by the South American associations of the date for the games, Fifa have decided that it would be "unfair to deprive clubs of the services of some of their top players."

FORMER Swansea City defender Mel Nurse has quit as a director of the struggling Third Division club.

Nurse - the last link with the club's former owners, Ninth Floor plc and Mike Lewis - said he had decided to resign because it was "time for change."

"I'm sad to leave the club I love, but with the strength of feeling in the community, I felt it was time to go," he told the club's website.

Nurse's departure marks the end of a long association with the Swans. He played 257 league games for the club in two spells from 1955 to 1962 and 1968 to 1971.

And he rejoined the board last year, having previously served as a director in the mid-80s. Businessman Tony Petty invited Nurse to remain on the board when he bought the club from Mike Lewis last month.

But Nurse - who was also capped 12 times by Wales between 1960 and 1964 - has been critical of Lewis for selling the Swans to Petty.

And he has found himself in an increasingly uncomfortable position since the businessman tried to sack seven first-team squad members and asked eight other players to accept huge pay cuts.

Speaking exclusively to The Western Mail last week, Nurse revealed he was disappointed when Lewis turned down his offer of a "substantial" amount of money to rescue the Swans and chose to do business with Petty instead.

"I offered what to me is a substantial amount of money to carry the club forward until such time it would be taken over by the appropriate person," said Nurse, who runs the Sea Haven Hotel close to the Vetch.

"I did not want to buy the club because I don't think it should belong to one person," he said.

"But I would have done whatever was needed to help Swansea survive and move it forward - probably doing what the supporters trust has done in getting together as bodies to put money in.

"But Mike must have felt Mr Petty would take Swansea forward better than I could. On the basis of what has happened - how the business has been run - I think Mike has made a mistake.

"The impression I get is that Mike is having second thoughts. I think he regrets what he has done. I would think Mike, realising it takes a lot of money to run a football club, was attracted to what Mr Petty was offering.

"He must have thought he would put money in and all the tie-ups with Australia must have sounded great."

Petty, who is planning to be at the Vetch for the first time since the crisis when Swansea face Rushden & Diamonds in Division Three tomorrow, said he accepted Nurse's resignation reluctantly.

"Mel came into see me Wednesday afternoon and expressed his desire to resign, and I had to accept his wishes," Petty told the website.

"Mel obviously has his own reasons, and I wish him all the best."

Three rampaging soccer fans were jailed today for their part in violent street clashes in which a police dog lost an eye.

Extra police were rushed to Swansea when up to 200 rioting fans tried to clash with rival supporters from Bristol City in October last year.

Major, a five-year-old German Shepherd dog, was hit in the eye with a bottle and had to have the glass surgically removed. He was later retired from service.

Lee Howells, 22, from Swansea, south Wales, was jailed for 12 months at Swansea Crown Court for his part in the riots.

Judge Gerald Price QC jailed Howells for a further three months for the separate offence of carrying an imitation firearm while on bail awaiting sentence.

Howells, who at first admitted a charge of violent disorder, then charged his plea to not guilty, was also banned from attending football matches for the next seven years.

Mark Davies, 24 and Steven Wilkie, 26, both of Swansea, were both jailed for nine months and banned from attending soccer matches for six years after being convicted of violent disorder.

Four other men involved in the violent city centre rampages before and after the match escaped jail terms. Judge Price told Christopher Spencer, 36, he was old enough to know better. Spencer had spent the previous night in a cell after being remanded in custody to await sentence.

He was ordered to carry out a 220-hour community punishment order and warned that he would have no time to socialise over the next year.

Robert White, 23, Neil Lloyd, 18, and Andrew Bate, 19, all of Swansea, were each ordered to do to 220-hour community punishment orders.

All four, who had admitted violent disorder, were banned from attending matches for four years.

The seven fans were among more than a dozen identified from city centre CCTV footage recorded at the time of the violence.

They had given themselves up after their photographs had appeared in local newspapers.

Other fans who had denied taking part in the violence were tried and acquitted by a jury at Carmarthen Crown Court earlier this year.

During the trial prosecutor Dyfed Thomas told the court that rampaging fans showered police with debris taken from a builder's skip.

Staff at a nearby Tesco's store were so concerned for the safety of customers that they locked them inside.

Sentencing the men Judge Price said: "This was a particularly serious outbreak of disorder. A large number of police officers had to be despatched to protect the public.

"Mercifully no one was injured. But the citizens of Swansea as well as visitors are entitled and allowed to walk the streets in safety."

FORMER Swansea City director Mel Nurse has bought the club's £800,000 debt from former owners Ninth Floor, the Evening Post can reveal.

In a fax to chairman Tony Petty, leaked to the Post this afternoon, Nurse confirmed he had acquired the debt and said he was desperate for the club to survive and worried for its future as regards its position in the league.

The Post revealed yesterday that Nurse had purchased the club car park and club shop from the former owners.

This latest twist in the Swansea saga could lead to pressure being put on Petty to repay the debt now held by Nurse.

Neither Nurse nor Petty were available for comment.

The fax from Nurse said: "Yesterday I acquired from Ninth Floor Plc the indebtedness of the Swansea City Association Football Club Limited to them.

"I am grateful to them for their continuing efforts to aid the club. As a former player and captain of the club I am desperate to secure its survival in the Football League.

"The club has to be stabilised if it is not to fold financially. Sponsors need to be attracted and further support generated and the current adverse publicity taken with the feelings of the general public in Swansea may prove fatal.

"The league table shows that the club is in real danger of dropping out of the league through poor results.

"I feel that this would be an inevitable consequence of the sale or release of its senior players.

"I am in consultation with my advisors to determine those steps that I should now take to safeguard its survival."

Meanwhile, former club chairman Steve Hamer has hit out at Petty, branding him an opportunist, and Mike Lewis, the man who sold the club on to the Aussie-based businessman.

Hamer resigned from the Vetch boardroom after refusing to sign the prospectus for Swansea's the then planned flotation on the Alternative Investment Market of the Stock Exchange.

Since then the club has lurched from one crisis to another and Hamer is saddened at what has happened since his departure.

"It is very tragic," he said. "This guy Tony Petty is clearly an opportunist but the real culprit is Mike Lewis, who actually took over the club from Ninth Floor for a £1.

"He (Lewis) effectively handed this club to Tony Petty without, I believe, any reference to the other board of directors. I think Mr Petty has misread the script. I don't think he understands the depth of feeling in Swansea.

"If I were him I'd get back on a jet very quickly and get back to Australia."

SWANSEA City director Mel Nurse has quit the club.

Nurse resigned last night leaving controversial chairman Tony Petty and chief executive John Shuttleworth as the only two members left on the Vetch Field board following the resignation last month of Professor David Farmer and the sacking of financial director Martin Burgess.

The former Swansea and Wales star has been a major figure on and off the field at the Vetch for a number of years and said he made the decison to quit for the sake of the club.

"I am obviously sad to have to make this decision because I love the football club," said Nurse.

"But I did it because of the feeling around the city and in the community at large. At the end of the day Swansea is my home and I have to live here.

"I told Mr Petty and Mr Shuttleworth that I did not feel comfortable with their actions but I had to take a back seat because I was a director.

"But I knew nothing about those decisions they made regarding the players."

Nurse became a director last December for the second time after spending time on the board back in 1985.

In his latest spell at the club he has been honoured for his sterling behind-the-scenes work with a bar named after him built behind the North Bank which he helped to build himself.

He is unsure what the future holds for the club but the Post understands from a source close to the Swansea businessman that he has bought the club shop and car park from previous owners Ninth Floor for a substantial amount of money.

Nurse himself says he will stay involved with the club in the future one way or another.

"I have a season ticket so I will continue to watch the Swans," he said."I love the club, but I don't know what the future holds for Swansea City.

"Whatever I have done I have done to safeguard the survival of the club. But I am sad to have to make this decision."

SWANSEA City skipper Nick Cusack believes chairman Tony Petty has taken the first step towards healing the wounds opened three weeks ago by paying the players' wages yesterday.

But he insists the controversial Petty has a long way to go before winning back the Vetch Field playing staff's trust.

Petty told seven players they would not be paid at all and another eight that they faced at least 60 per cent wage cuts just a week after taking over from Mike Lewis.

But after the sale of Stuart Roberts for £100,000 and with the support of Aussie soccer club Brisbane Lions, every member of Colin Addison's squad has been paid in full.

"It's the first step forward," said Cusack. "Since October 10, our main objective was to make sure we got paid at the end of the month.

"But I have said to Mr Petty that he has to honour the players' contracts in full. We don't want to be revisiting this situation every month.

"He has acknowledged that his actions were unacceptable to everybody involved at the club and that the advice he was given was very poor.

"Now he is trying to build bridges and make what is a very difficult situation for himself a bit better. But it is his actions over the coming months which will determine whether he gets the respect and the trust of the players.

"I told him that he needs to run the club in a very responsible manner and respect the players. He agreed with my sentiments."

Swansea's match at Exeter on Boxing Day will have a 1pm kick-off on police advice after consultations with both clubs.

ROGER Freestone is delighted to be staying at Vetch Field after controversial chairman Tony Petty rejected an offer from Queens Park Rangers for the keeper.

"It's nice to be still wanted," said Swansea City's Welsh international.

"If Manchester United or Liverpool had come in, I might have thought about it.

"But I have been here 10 years and I have said all along that I want to finish my career here.

"People say it shows I lack ambition, but I don't see it that way. I have won trophies and a Welsh cap with Swansea.

"Hopefully now we can get things sorted and build for a brighter future with the Morfa Stadium looking a bit nearer now."

Swansea have not revealed how much, if anything, QPR offered for Freestone's services.

"With the situation being the way it is at the club, everyone knows that we need to move players on," said Petty.

"However, I spoke to Roger to inform him of the enquiry and he told me he did not want to leave. Then I spoke to Colin (Addison) and he said he didn't want to lose Roger.

"As far as I was concerned that was the end of the matter. I went back to QPR and told them there was no deal."

QPR are looking to sign a keeper after Loftus Road No. 1 Chris Day broke his leg in the game against Oldham last weekend. They contacted the Vetch on Monday.

And while Addison knows he has to off-load some players he does not want to lose Freestone.

"I've had a lot of enquiries regarding a number of players as you would expect," said the Swans boss.

"QPR have asked about Roger and I'm glad that he's not going anywhere. I do not want to lose him.

"I think it's public knowledge that Cambridge are looking at Smith, but that doesn't mean he will be moving.

"A number of clubs have been in touch with me just wanting to know about some of the younger players as well but there's nothing firm yet."

He added: "You need to get the right balance in the squad of youth and experience, and it's important that we get the right blend of players going out so we are left with the right squad for the job ahead."

TONY Petty has outlined his vision for the future of Swansea City as a club co-run by a local consortium, Aussie soccer side Brisbane Lions — and him.

And the controversial Vetch Field chairman has called on the fans to forget the dramatic events of recent weeks and look ahead to what he believes will be a bright future for the club.

"What I foresee happening is hopefully a group of business people — ideally local — joining forces with me and the Brisbane Lions and together us pushing things through," he said.

In his first in-depth interview since returning to Wales from Australia, Petty is in positive mood and remains defiant in the face of severe criticism.

Meanwhile, the Aussie-based businessman faces another problem in the shape of former manager John Hollins.

The man sacked by the club in early September is yet to agree a compensation deal for the 23 months remaining on his £115,000-per-year contract.

Hollins, it is believed, was offered a pay-off of around £40,000 but turned it down.

His assistant, Alan Curtis, was dismissed on the same day. He has agreed a settlement but it is not known whether he has actually received any money as yet.

Youth coach Ron Walton and goalkeeping coach Glan Letheren, who were shown the door by Petty earlier this month, are also waiting for their contracts to be paid up.

A fairly strong Swansea side drew 1-1 in an entertaining friendly with Merthyr at Penydarren Park last night.

Impressive Australian triallist Peter Henks scored a 20th-minute equaliser for Colin Addison's side after Mattie Davies's early strike.

Along with winger Henks, new boy Terry Evans put in a good performance and Jason Smith came through a full 90 minutes.

In his first major interview since returning from Australia, new Swans owner TonyPetty talks to Post soccer writer Gareth Vincent about players, fans, cash and . . .Saturday's game


GarethVincent: Are you back in Swansea permanently?

Tony Petty: No, not at all. I am going back to Australia next week. I am involved in the Australian bid to host the World Cup as a member of the delegation. It's not essential that I go back but it's very important to me and next week is important.

GV: Have you had any adverse reaction from fans since you got back to Swansea?

TP: No, not really. I had what I felt was a fairly good meeting with a group of the guys from the Supporters' Trust outside the council offices. I think it went quite well. It looks like we are going to meet again. I would say to all the fans I apologise if I have been a little heavy handed, but I am just trying to save a company from going bust.

GV: Will you be going to Saturday's game against Rushden & Diamonds and what sort of reaction do you expect?

TP: Yes I will be at the game. As things stand at the moment, I would say I would be in for a very tough time. But a lot of things can happen between now and then so things might be a bit different.

I do not agree with the slagging I have got and I am convinced that if the fans knew all the facts they would not be slagging me at all.

GV: Are you planning any more cost-cutting measures?

TP: Not in the immediate future. Obviously if players are offered deals by other clubs I will look at that. But the Queens Park Rangers game being on Sky is a huge boost and takes the heat off us a little bit. It is by no means the answer to all our problems, but it helps.

GV: What will the money from Stuart Roberts's sale and Sky Television be used for?

TP: The Roberts money has already gone because we have paid the wages in full. £100,000 does not cover the wage bill which is actually around £170,000 per month. Now you see why we had to press the panic button.

GV: So the players have, after all, been paid this month. Can you guarantee it will be the same next month?

TP: Yes the wages will be paid next month.

GV: Neil Sharp and Terry Evans have signed in the last week. How is that possible?

TP: Both of those players have come for wages which are within my wage band and have not cost big transfer fees. Other players will be leaving sooner or later for sure, though I would not like to describe the new boys as replacements. If things improve financially, I will not be looking to get rid of any player that Colin Addison does not want to lose.

GV: Have you had interest in any of the current squad?

TP: Yes there has been interest, but I will not say in who or from where because it would not be fair on the players.

GV: What did you make of the £50,001 offer to take over the club?

TP: I did not think much of it. It was ill-advised. If I had sold people would have said 'Oh look, he's made a fast profit'. That's not what I'm here for.

GV: Can you be bought out or could you be pressured out by fans?

TP: I do not want to talk about that. I am trying to heal wounds at the moment, not open them. That's all negative and I want to be positive.

GV: What happened at yesterday's meeting with Swansea Council?

TP: They announced that the Morfa is now a signed deal and I cannot understand why they have not made a song and dance about it. It's great news for the club.

GV: What's the situation with Brisbane Lions?

TP: They know what I have done has been right but things got a bit tricky because they were unhappy with the reaction in Swansea. But they are back on board and I would say they are very likely to get involved.

GV: What do you need the £400,000 you talked about yesterday for?

TP: When I took over, the club was projected to lose £700,000 a year and we have already pulled back £350,000. Another £400,000 and we would be fine. I am considering selling some shares to raise capital, maybe with a view to floating the club in 18 months. I think with the Morfa going ahead, fans and businesses will believe Swansea is something worth investing in.

GV: How do you see the future of the club now?

TP: What I foresee happening is hopefully a group of business people — ideally local — joining forces with me and the Brisbane Lions and together us pushing things through. We have had the bad times, now it's time to unite.

CAMBRIDGE manager John Beck yesterday admitted he has reopened his interest in Swansea City centre-back Jason Smith, writes Mario Risoli.

Beck has long been an admirer of Smith, who returned to first-team action last Saturday at Luton after missing the start of the season with an ankle injury.

"I saw Jason play against Cardiff City reserves last week and I thought he was still three or four weeks short of full match fitness," said Beck. "But we're keeping a close check on him."

Smith, one of the seven players "sacked" by Swans chairman Tony Petty earlier this month, played a key role in Swansea's Third Division championship triumph last year.

Beck is desperate to sign a defender after watching his side concede 13 goals in the last four matches.

John Cornforth has been named manager of Third Division Exeter until the end of the season.

The former Wales international has impressed as caretaker manager since Noel Blake's departure six weeks ago.

In that time City have won three and drawn three of their seven league games to move off the foot of the League.

Cornforth, 34, began his career at Sunderland and also played for Swansea, Birmingham, Wycombe, Cardiff and Scunthorpe before joining Exeter in February 2000.

CONTROVERSIAL Swansea City chairman Tony Petty achieved his goal yesterday when the go-ahead was finally clinched for the long-awaited £75m Morfa Stadium development.

Only 24 hours after returning from Australia he sat in the public gallery of the Swansea Council chamber to hear that a development agreement had been signed with B&Q for the DIY chain to become the anchor tenant at the stadium complex.

Byron Owen, cabinet councillor for development, said the company's timescale envisaged an Easter 2003 opening.

"We now have an anchor tenant with very real prospects of the stadium going ahead," said Owen.

"This in itself will bring in tens of millions of pounds."

Petty later welcomed the announcement as "fantastic news" for the ailing Third Division club which has long awaited a dream move from the Vetch Field to the vastly more modern facilities planned for the Morfa Stadium.

The Swans will share the complex with Swansea RFC, who are also planning to move from St Helen's which is similarly outdated to the Vetch.

"I am sure this will be a huge boost for Swansea - and it will also help us to raise more capital," said Petty.

"Now that the stadium has been announced, I believe there will be more business people who will want to be involved with the Swans.

"Brisbane Lions have told me they still want to be part of the club. They were very disappointed when I made them aware of how bad the finances were, but they are still in the picture and I hope to show them that the Swans are financially viable.

"When I tell them that Morfa is definitely a goer it will be a huge boost to them and perhaps to a few other business people who have been waiting in the wings."

Petty admitted it was no secret that when he took over the club three weeks ago that it was projected to lose something over £700,000 this year - and that, he said. clearly could not go on.

"I was given the job to fix the losses which I am endeavouring to do and, in the short time, I have been here we have logged off around £350,000," he said.

"Things are improving - and improving on a daily basis. But I would urge the supporters to be patient.

"I said at the start that we had to balance the books before we balanced the players and I want to make Swansea City FC a financially viable outfit."

He has come under fire from Swans supporters for sacking seven key players and slashing the salaries of others by up to 70pc.

But Petty said, "It is unfortunate that we don't have the gates to support the squad we have got.

"I have had abuse before and I am sure it will happen again, but the fact remains that we need at least £400,000 to come into the club on top of our projected income in order to balance the books.

"If the council was willing to sponsor us to that extent I would be over the moon. I know that isn't going to happen but, as I sat listening in the public gallery, I thought we have just had a lot of hot air - and that doesn't pay bills.

"One thing that has pleased me, though, is that it is pretty obvious everyone wants league football to survive in Swansea."

He was less than pleased with council leader Lawrence Bailey's comment that although the authority was very keen to work with anyone who had the best interests of the club at heart, the controlling Labour group "are not convinced the present owners meet this criteria."

Petty protested, "What right has a council leader to make a comment without discussing this with me.

"It concerns me that people can make comments like this without even getting in touch with us."

SWANSEA CITY have yet to reach a financial agreement with former manager John Hollins, who was sacked from his £115,000 a-year post last month, it emerged last night.

And the Swans have still not paid-up former goalkeeping coach Glan Letheran and ex-youth team manager Ron Walton, who were both sacked by new chairman Tony Petty earlier this month.

The cash-starved club owes Hollins around £200,000 and The Western Mail understands that he has been offered £40,000, which is only 20pc of that sum.

Hollins, who is the club's second biggest creditor after previous owner Ninth Floor plc, who are owed just over £800,000, has turned down the offer.

And a close friend of the former Swansea manager warned Petty last night, "John Hollins is not going to walk away."

The news that Hollins has not received his money came on the day it was revealed Shrewsbury Town manager Kevin Ratcliffe has not been paid by his former club Chester City - despite leaving the Deva Stadium two and a half years ago.

John Barnwell, chief executive of the League Managers Association, has expressed his concern over the Hollins situation.

Hollins was shown the door by former Swans chairman Mike Lewis on September 12 - the day after his side lost 3-0 against Plymouth Argyle at Home Park.

The former Chelsea, QPR and Arsenal midfielder still had 23 months of his contract left to run after signing a three-year deal in June 2000, shortly after his Swansea side clinched the Third Division championship.

However, Alan Curtis, who was Hollins's No 2 at the Vetch and who was sacked on the same day, agreed a compensation package with Lewis - reputedly 50pc of what was owed to him - and is being paid in instalments.

But on the subject of Hollins, Petty said, "I've spoken to John recently and he's considering his position. That's all I know at the moment.

"I'm hoping we can come to some amicable arrangement. This was something I inherited. You have to admit I've inherited some beautiful things at this club."

Petty claims the Swans are losing £80,000 a-month which means there is little chance of making an improved offer to Hollins.

The 55-year-old has been linked with several managerial posts since leaving the Vetch - including Brighton, Southend and Exeter - but is still out of work.

"It would certainly help us if John got another club but right now I can't say what's going to happen," added Petty.

Walton and Letheran both had six-month rolling contracts at the Vetch.

"I'd like to have my money. I don't want to be kept waiting because I've got to live and pay my bills," said Walton last night.

"I've got 24 weeks pay owing to me and I'd like to think that my 17-and-a-half years at the Vetch will stand me in good stead.

"I understand Tony Petty is back from Australia and I'm just waiting for him to pay me up. I'm having what I'm entitled to."

Letheran added, "I've spoken to the club on a number of occasions and I'm still waiting for my money. I should have had it by now but it's always tomorrow, tomorrow, tomorrow.

"I spoke to Tony Petty last Monday and he's supposed to be getting back to me. If he doesn't get back to me in the next 24 hours then the matter will go back to my solicitors.

"I want to get paid so I can get on with my future. I've got two children and a family to look after.

"I've told John Shuttleworth (Swansea's chief executive) that if they give me a decent offer I'll accept it and we can call it quits. I don't particularly want to go to court about this."

THE Swansea City Supporters' Trust have called on the Football League to investigate controversial club chairman Tony Petty.

In a lengthy letter to chief executive David Burns, the trust have spelt out their concerns about the Aussie-based businessman.

And they have asked the league to look into the legality of Petty's Vetch takeover as well as what his motives are.

"The very existence of our great club has, in our opinion, been placed at grave risk by Mr Petty's unwarranted actions," said the letter, which was also sent to the Football Association of Wales and the Football Supporters' Association.

"He purchased the club for just £1 and, following the subsequent public outcry at his actions, has declined an offer of £50,000 to place the club in the safe hands of its supporters.

"Given that the offer represented a return of £49,999 to Mr Petty for less than two weeks' involvement with the club, it is not surprising that there is speculation as to his possible motives.

"We therefore ask that you, as the competent authority, initiate an investigation into the sale of Swansea City and seek a thorough explanation from Mr Petty as to his plans for the club."

The trust argue that regulatory powers regarding club takeovers are not strong enough.

And they say changes should be made now before more clubs suffer under controversial owners.

"We urge you to initiate an immediate investigation in the interests of the supporters, the players and ultimately, yourselves," the letter said.

Petty 'sacked' seven players and slashed the contracts of another eight nearly three weeks ago in an attempt to cut Swansea's costs.

Youth boss Ron Walton and goalkeeping coach Glan Letheren were dismissed, while star player Stuart Roberts was sold for a cut-price £100,000.

CASH-STRAPPED Swansea City have received a welcome £100,000 windfall from Sky Television for the rights to their FA Cup first-round clash with Queen's Park Rangers.

Manager Colin Addison has celebrated by making his second signing in a week, but still looks poised to lose central defender Jason Smith.

Right-back Terry Evans has joined from Peter Nicholas's old club Barry Town on a free transfer until the end of next season.

The 25-year-old former Welsh Under-21 international spent six years at Barry after being released by Cardiff City.

"He is a good defender who will strengthen our options," said Swansea assistant boss Nicholas.

"In his time at Jenner Park, he has achieved all he possibly could and has been their player of the year, so he's earned another crack at the Football League."

Evans follows centre-back Neil Sharp, who joined Swansea from Merthyr last week and now looks likely to replace Smith in the squad.

Cambridge boss John Beck has confirmed his interest in 27-year-old Smith and is set to put in an offer.

"He is a player on our list and we are keeping a close eye on him," said Beck, who watched Smith play for Swansea's reserves against Cardiff last week.

Despite the fact that Smith was 'sacked', Second Division Cambridge are expected to pay a fee for his services.

There is question mark over how close to Smith's actual value it will be, though, after promising youngster Stuart Roberts departed for just £100,000.

"We don't want to lose a player of Jason's quality but we might need the money," said Swansea chairman Tony Petty.

"Stuart Roberts left only because we needed the money. But as far as I know we haven't yet had a firm offer for Jason. Until we hear something, he is a Swansea player."

Speaking for the first time since 'sacking' seven players and slashing the contracts of another eight, Petty insisted the club is still desperate for cash despite the surprise £100,000 television bonus confirmed yesterday.

"Our financial situation is well-documented. Our overheads are way more than they should be," he added.

"I'll keep saying until I'm blue in the face — our overheads are not what you would expect of a club in the Third Division."

The Sky cameras will be at the Vetch on Sunday, November 18 for live coverage of the tie. Kick-off will be 6.05pm to fit in with broadcasting times.

Meanwhile, Swansea take on Merthyr in a friendly at Penydarren Park tonight (7.30), and a week tonight, Swansea's youngsters take on Welsh League side Neath in the Welsh Youth Cup second round.

The local derby will be played at Llandarcy Park on November 6, kick-off 7pm.

SWANSEA CITY chairman Tony Petty arrived back in Wales yesterday unable to rule out the sale of further players despite landing a £100,000 Sky jackpot.

The Swans' financial plight was eased last night when it was announced their FA Cup first-round match against Queens Park Rangers would be screened live on Sky Sports on November 18.

Both clubs will receive £100,000 and Petty was "over the moon" by Sky's decision to bring their cameras to the Vetch Field.

But Swansea's controversial chairman, speaking exclusively to The Western Mail, said it was unlikely that manager Colin Addison could make further signings.

Addison is keen to draft in new blood following Saturday's debacle at Luton where the Swans were brushed aside 3-0 - a defeat that leaves them only one point above bottom club Halifax Town.

He signed Merthyr Tydfil defender Neil Sharp last week and has been given the green light to move for Barry Town right-back Terry Evans, but that is as far as Addison can go.

"Neil has just joined us and Terry could be coming in, but right now that's all we can do. To bring in more players we'll have to let a few go," said Petty.

The Swans tried to sign former Cardiff City player Evans before the Luton match but failed to reach an agreement with the League of Wales champions.

"Our financial situation is well-documented. Our overheads are way more than they should be," added Petty.

"I'll keep saying it until I'm blue in the face - our overheads are not what you'd expect of a club in the Third Division.

"I want to put out a winning team. If there is a player Colin really wants to sign and we can afford him then we will do our very best to bring him to Swansea.

"But I have to say Colin hasn't asked for any more players apart from Neil Sharp and Terry Evans. The team is his department.

"I just keep the club running. Colin has been in football all his life. He knows what the team's weaknesses are."

Petty yesterday returned to the Vetch for the first time since telling seven

players they had to find new clubs and asking eight more to take pay cuts.

He revealed the £100,000 received from Wycombe Wanderers for Stuart Roberts a fortnight ago had all gone on paying the club's wage bill this month.

That could mean the imminent departure of highly-rated centre-back Smith - one the seven players told to find a new club - who has interested Second Division Cambridge United.

Cambridge manager John Beck watched Smith, who missed the start of the season, in a recent "behind-closeddoors" friendly against Cardiff City.

The 27-year-old made his first appearance of the season at Luton and Beck could swoop now that he is back to full fitness.

"We don't want to lose a player of Jason's quality but we might need the money. Stuart Roberts left only because we needed the money," said the Swansea chairman.

"Stuart had to go to pay the monthly wages and let me tell you that the money we got from him didn't even cover that. Our monthly wage bill is around £180,000.

"Look at the gates we're getting and you don't have to be a rocket scientist to work out we're losing money. But the players' wages have been paid.

"Losing Stuart was a shame because I don't want to sell our best players and I don't want to lose anyone else, but you've got to try and survive in difficult times.

"If we didn't need the money then of course we wouldn't be selling. I haven't come to Swansea to weaken the team.

"But as far as I know we haven't yet had a firm offer for Jason. Until we hear something, he is a Swansea player."

Petty, who missed the Kenilworth Road setback because he was moving house in Australia, praised the Swansea players.

"I have to say their attitude has been great," he said. "I know I was the bearer of bad news and that didn't make me feel good.

"It was disappointing to lose at Luton but you've got put that in perspective - they are a side that's top of the table.

"We will not go down. I'm sure we won't. Swansea going into the Nationwide Conference is inconceivable. We are having a difficult time but we will get over it."

SWANSEA City defender Jason Smith could be on his way to Cambridge United.

The big central defender — one of Tony Petty's 'sacked' seven — has been a target for Abbey Stadium manager John Beck since the summer but has not played since March because of an ankle ligament problem.

Smith finally returned to Swansea's first-team as an impressive late substitute in the defeat at Luton on Saturday.

Last week, he played 45 minutes of a friendly against Cardiff which Beck watched.

And Swansea managerAddison revealed that although he does not want the 27-year-old to go, he may not have a choice.

"Cambridge have enquired about his situation, it's as simple as that and nothing more than that," said the Vetch boss.

"I do not want him to leave because we need a fit Jason Smith playing for us at the moment, but we will wait and see. He may have to leave for financial reasons."

Smith, arguably Swansea's best defender, would command a substantial fee under normal circumstances.

Whether he will after the chairman tried to terminate his contract is unclear.

Smith proved his worth in the crushing defeat at Kenilworth Road, where along with Roger Freestone, he was the only Swan to emerge with any credit.

Swansea were outplayed by Joe Kinnear's classy side, and Addison has promised some punishing training before Saturday's meeting with Rushden & Diamonds as a result.

"There is a lot of hard work to be done by the players this week," he said.

"It's going to be a busy time for all the playing staff, that's for sure.

"I do not like being at the bottom of the league and neither does Peter Nicholas. We have got to do better than this.

"Luton was a very bad day for us but we have just got to keep focused and keep going.

"Like I have said before, you need a level of consistency, that's what it's all about. At the moment we are hot and cold and that's not good enough. But it's only October. This job is going to be very hard, but we'll be all right."

Swansea have been handed a tough draw in the first round of the FA Cup.

They will meet Second Division Queens Park Rangers at the Vetch on November 17.

Wrexham are away to Hereford while Cardif City travel to Tiverton.

The Draw for the First Round Proper of the AXA Sponsored FA Cup is as follows:

Hereford v Wrexham Stalybridge v Chesterfield Blackpool v Woking or Newport County Southend v Luton Wigan v Canvey Island Mansfield v Oxford Utd Torquay v Northampton Doncaster or Emley v Scunthorpe Cambridge Utd v Notts County Tamworth v Rochdale Colchester v York Stevenage or Kettering v Cheltenham Tiverton Town v Cardiff Exeter v Hucknall Town or Cambridge City Bristol City v Leyton Orient Lincoln City v Bury Hayes v Wycombe Halifax v Farnborough Town Reading v Folkestone Invicta or Welling Utd Havant & Watlooville or Barnet v Carlisle Altrincham v Lancaster City or Vauxhall Motors Aldershot v Bristol Rovers Whitby Town v Plymouth Kidderminster v Darlington Oldham v Barrow Port Vale v Aylesbury Utd Mangotsfield Utd or Lewes v Stoke Bedford Town v Peterborough Basingstoke or Dag & Red v Marine or Southport Belper Town or Worcester City v Rushden & Diamonds Grays v Hinckley Tranmere v Brigg Town Brentford v Morcambe Swansea v QPR Bournemouth v Worksop Brighton v Shrewsbury Macclesfield v Forest Green Telford Utd or Northwich v Hull Swindon v Hartlepool Huddersfield v Gravesend & Northfleet

Ties will be played over the weekend November 16/17/18th 

THE heat was last night being turned upon troubled Swansea City chief TonyPetty.

Swans 'legend' Mel Nurse is a director on theVetch board next toPetty,and has found himself at the centre of a power struggle to wrest back control of the club.

Nurse,we can reveal, is trying to bring together three different consortia to buy out Petty and is attempting to strike a deal with former owners NinthFloor to takeover part of the £1m debt.

And the pressure on Petty increased further when David Burns, the chief executive of the Football League,was asked to conduct a formal investigation into the £1 sale of the club agreed between the new chairman and his predecessor Mike Lewis.

The Swans'Supporters'Trust, membership of which has exceeded 1,000, has sent a letter to Burns requesting he personally steps into sort out the fiasco.

Expressing their concern for the very existence of the Swans,the Supporters Trust chiefs write in their letter to Burns:"We ask that you initiate an investigation into the sale of Swansea City FC and seek a thorough explanation from Mr Petty as to his plans for the club."

The11-paragraph letter, which has been looked at by lawyers, also states:"The very existence of our great and much-loved club has,in our opinion,been placed at risk by Mr Petty's unwarranted actions.

"That an individual is able to purchase a football club for £1 without even notifying the League out ofcourtesy and is able within days to have brought the club to its knees is a sorry indictment of the current regulatory powers available to the League."

Burns will receive the letter when he goes into his London offices tomorrow morning.

In the interim, Nurse is heavily involved behind the scenes tofinda way out of the mess the Swans have been plunged into.

He is being asked to lead a move which will different groups of business people together, with Nurse possibly then being installed as chairman.

Intriguingly Nurse,we understand,is striking a deal with Ninth Floort o'buy' the £200,000 security overthe club car park and shop.

That waspart of thecomplex negotiations struck betweenex-NinthFloor supremo Neil McClure and Lewis when they agreed a token £1 buy-out of the club.

Acquiring that £200,000 carpar and club shop debt would put Nurse partly in control of the club, because he could demand payment of it from Petty.

Nurse would not comment on the detail of what he is planning behind the scenes.

But he did admit:"Let's just say I am doing things to hopefully help the club.

"It will come out eventually and by my standards it is costing me a small fortune.

"The important thing here though is the future of SwanseaCity.If I'm asked tod o anything to rescue the club, then I'll do that. But what I cannot do is get rid of individuals.

"Obviously though there is a big depth of feeling here in Swansea and my telephone has not stopped ringing with requests from fans for me to step in and help.

"Infact, you're lucky tos peak to me.When I pu tdown the phone someone else will be straight on.When you are caught up in that depth of feeling,you feel a wish to help out. Only a fool would do nothing about it."

Expressing his concern about Petty's actions,Nurse opened up to admit:"These people come in, not really thinking like football lovers,and want to get rid of numbers 1 to15 of the highest paid earners at the club.

"The argument is that there are 60 people employed by Swansea City and to rescue 45 you have to get rid of 15.The problem is those other 45 are almost meaningless without the15."

Nurse went on:"I feel a mistake has been made. O fcourse you can't keepl osing money,but there has to be an ethical way to go about things.

"If I thought TonyPetty was doing the right thing for Swansea City, I would be 100-percent behind it.

"To date what he's done does not suggest it will be in the best interests of the club-not according to the fans, anyway.

"And to do the cost-cutting and then walk away to Australia hasn't gone down well with those fans."

Asked about his direct involvement with three different consortia, Nurses aid:"I will chair anything that keeps professional football in Swansea."

FURIOUS Swansea boss Colin Addison is poised to help Vetch chairman Tony Petty show the door to a battery of his slackers within weeks after this feeble show.

Strikes from Dean Crowe, ex-Cardiff man Russell Perrett and substitute Adrian Forbes condemned the Vetch side to their eighth league defeat of the season and Addison was struggling to contain his temper.

The Swans have taken just eight from a possible 30 points and it means they are sliding ever nearer the Nationwide Conference trapdoor.

Addo stormed: "If players want to play for me they have to do better than this. After this show we might have to move people on more quickly and get replacements in swiftly.

"Everyone knows the financial situation at the club, but I won't accept any excuses off the players for a performance like this - our display was clearly not good enough. We have to be consistent, but we were as bad here as our display against Halifax a few weeks ago.

"The side was sloppy, we made too many unforced errors and were lucky to come second!"

And tough talking Addison pledged his men would pay for their dire display, saying: "There'll be lots of hard work for them in the coming week - incorporating a practise match against Merthyr on Tuesday!"

Hatters manager Joe Kinnear, who saw his men go top of the table after this win, rubbed salt into the Swans's wounds, sneering: "We got three goals but it could have easily been eight.

"Swansea were chasing shadows."

And the ex-Wimbledon manager had special praise for striker Crowe - a man he snapped up on a free transfer from Stoke City earlier in the week. He said: "Dean was a revelation - I'm glad he's now permanent after his lone spell with us, the boy is on fire!"

Kinnear also held Frenchman Jean Louis Valois in acclaim too. He said: "He's quite outstanding and a marvellous player."

Swansea gave a Nationwide league debut to 23-year-old Neil Sharp. There was also a second start of the season for Ryan Casey and welcome return for long standing injury victim Jason Smith, who slotted in on the bench.

The Hatters were without the suspended Matthew Taylor but boasted Valois in their arsenal and seven-goal striker Steve Howard.

And Swansea were under pressure in the opening 15 seconds as keeper Roger Freestone fisted clear Valois's viscous in-swinging corner.

The big Welshman then slid to his left to deny the charging Crowe on three minutes as Luton maintained their high-octane start.

The small stadium was bathed in sunshine but there was a definite air of doom and despondence from the travelling Swans's fans as they called for their absent Chairman Petty's head.

Luton roared ahead on 23 minutes.

Croatian Ahmet Brkovic cut through the centre with a lightening break to release Crowe who easily netted from 12 yards.

Luton were wrapping up the points on 54 minutes as defender Perrett notched the fifth goal of his career as he toe poked in Valois's swerving near post cross.

A Hatter's free kick after the hour saw Valois and Matthew Spring linked on the edge of the area for Forbes - on for the injured Crowe -to power into the net from point-blank range.

Rampant Luton were going for the jugular and Freestone was at full stretch to deny Chris Coyne.

But the Welshman needed his upright to keep out Valois who struck it with a left foot drive.

SWANSEA slumped to a shocking defeat as three Hatters' missiles sank them in deepest Bedfordshire.

Goals from Dean Crowe, ex-Cardiff favourite Russell Perrett and sub Adrian Forbes condemned them to their eighth League defeat of the season. Swansea gave a Nationwide League debut to 23-year-old Neil Sharp.

The central defender was snapped up from Dr Martens outfit Merthyr just 48 hours ago and stepped straight in for the suspended Kris O'Leary.

There was also a second start of the season for Ryan Casey undefined in central midfield - and a welcome return for long-standing injury victim Jason Smith, who slotted in on the bench.

The Hatters, just a point behind table-toppers Plymouth at kick-off were without the suspended Matthew Taylor, but boasted exciting Frenchman Jean Louis Valois and seven-goal striker Steve Howard in their arsenal. Swansea offered little in the early exchanges and fell behind after just 23 minutes.

Croatian Ahmed Brkovic cut through the middle with a lightening break, releasing Dean Crowe, who easily bagged his fifth strike in six appearances.

And it was almost double trouble for the tormented Swans as the interval loomed, Crowe, Brkovic and Chris Coyne going so close as the home side heaped on torrid punishment.

But the Welsh side were finally offering an encounter deep in first half stoppage time - Ryan Casey's angled ball looping on to the roof of the net as Carl Emberson retreated.

HT: Luton 1, Swansea City 0.

Steve Watkin replaced Casey at the break, but the Swans were out of the contest on 54 minutes as former Cardiff City favourite Russell Perrett notched the fifth goal of his career.

And it was sheer embarrassment for Colin Addison's men as they crumbled on 61 minutes.

Valois and Matt Spring combined on the edge of the area for substitute Adrian Forbes - on for the injured Crowe - to power in from eight yards.

LUTON 3 SWANSEA CITY 0

COLIN Addison might have seen it all in football, but rarely can he have experienced the sight of one of his teams being so outclassed as the Swans were at Luton.

And with troubles off the field which could force him to sell players, it is hard to see how Swansea can lift themselves away from the Third Division's relegation zone.

They held out valiantly, with five at the back, until Luton got the 23rd-minute opener from Dean Crowe - and after that the title-chasers turned on the style.

Addison said: "Don't take anything away from Luton. They're a magnificent team, without doubt the best we have played this season.

"We were second best all over the field and it was a very poor performance. I'm very disappointed with it, especially as it came so quickly after a good display against Darlington at the Vetch in midweek.

"But Luton are a very talented side and we were outclassed on the day."

One of the few bright spots for Swansea was an impressive debut by centre-back Neil Sharp, signed a couple of days earlier from Merthyr Tydfil.

"He was one of the few to come out of that with some credit," said Addison.

Luton wrapped up the points all too easily with second-half goals from Russell Perrett and Adrian Forbes.

Swansea were saved a bigger hiding thanks to good work by goalkeeper Roger Freestone, and on one occasion a post kept out a drive by Luton's man-of-the-match Jean-Louis Valois.

Meanwhile, Cambridge United are chasing Jason Smith. Addison added: "They have made an enquiry. I don't want him to leave but he might have to for financial reasons."

LUTON 3 SWANSEA CITY 0

COLIN Addison might have seen it all in football, but rarely can he have experienced the sight of one of his teams being so outclassed as the Swans were at Luton.

And with troubles off the field which could force him to sell players, it is hard to see how Swansea can lift themselves away from the Third Division's relegation zone.

They held out valiantly, with five at the back, until Luton got the 23rd-minute opener from Dean Crowe - and after that the title-chasers turned on the style.

Addison said: "Don't take anything away from Luton. They're a magnificent team, without doubt the best we have played this season.

"We were second best all over the field and it was a very poor performance. I'm very disappointed with it, especially as it came so quickly after a good display against Darlington at the Vetch in midweek.

"But Luton are a very talented side and we were outclassed on the day."

One of the few bright spots for Swansea was an impressive debut by centre-back Neil Sharp, signed a couple of days earlier from Merthyr Tydfil.

"He was one of the few to come out of that with some credit," said Addison.

Luton wrapped up the points all too easily with second-half goals from Russell Perrett and Adrian Forbes.

Swansea were saved a bigger hiding thanks to good work by goalkeeper Roger Freestone, and on one occasion a post kept out a drive by Luton's man-of-the-match Jean-Louis Valois.

Meanwhile, Cambridge United are chasing Jason Smith. Addison added: "They have made an enquiry. I don't want him to leave but he might have to for financial reasons."

SWANSEA players are bracing themselves for the crunch on Wednesday in their bitter dispute with the club's new owner Tony Petty.

That is the last day of the month - pay day for the players - and captain Nick Cusack admitted: "Until we get our payslips and see the money in the bank we just can't be certain that we will be paid.

"The players are desperate for their wages. We have families to look after and mortgages to pay. The way the players have been treated already is disgraceful. I don't know what the reaction would be if there was no money for us."

The players would be allowed by law to refuse to keep playing for the crisis-torn Third Division club until those wages are paid.

The more realistic action would be for their union, the PFA, to take the case to court.

Petty insisted last night: "All my actions have been necessary to keep football alive in Swansea. We've shed people we simply couldn't afford to keep.

"I know I've devastated many individuals but what has happened will save us.

"It's nonsense to suggest I don't care about my club's league status. At the very least, we'll still be in Division Three next season.

"That will happen, even if I have to pull on the boots myself and play."