SWANSEA Council have ruled out a sale of the Vetch Field to any potential buyer of Swansea City.

The move effectively puts a block on attempts to gain control of the club by Mel Griffin s consortium and that of the Palestinian businessman the Post revealed had had talks with director Don Goss earlier this week.

Both are property developers and would he looking to develop on the Vetch site if they acquired the club.

But council leader Lawrence Bailey today rejected suggestions that it is prepared to sell off the Vetch for redevelopment.

Councilor Bailey revealed approaches had had been made by a firm who were interested in buying both the Swans and the Vetch field.

A meeting between the company and Council officers had ended with the firm being told that the Vetch was not for sale, said Councilor Bailey.

He added: "We are aware that there a number of interested parties involved in the potential purchase of Swansea City.

"We very much hope that this results in a stable future for the club and is based upon local ownership and interests.

"However, it has been made clear in the past that the Vetch site cannot be part of the equation as it is a public asset and subject to specific controls.

"Swansea Council is presently putting £22 million into professional soccer and rugby in Swansea by building the new Morfa Stadium.

"It represents the biggest single investment in sport that this city has seen."

This news will come as a blow to Jim Moore, a member of Griffin's group, who had had talks with a council representative on Thursday.

He said that following discussions he was bullish about the prospect of taking over the club. Moore left the city in an upbeat mood believing the deal was a step closer.

"It was a productive meeting," he said.
"I was encouraged by how positive council officials were.
"From our point of view we are working on 11 th hour stuff and hopefully we will have good news sometime soon.
"We want to come in work with the club and local people and get the club back on its feet. We are looking for local people who can make the club successful.
"That's what we have done at Hull City."
Moore added that after the meeting the council had been very supportive but there might be a problem in that red tape and mechanisms associated with local government could stop the rescue bid.

' 'That would not be the council's fault," he said. "But the rules they have to work with. "Our view is that with the help of local people we would be able to nurse the club back to health. That's what we did at Hull."

Griffin's consortium purchased Boothferry Park - Hull City's home - last year and then structured a rescue package with former Leeds director Adam Pearson, who now owns Hull.

That seemed to the plan at Swansea City but the council's decision has seemed to have bolted the door shut on that deal.

Meanwhile, club director Don Goss is to be acting managing director while Tony Petty and John Shuttleworth are away from the club.

And his first duties will be to welcome Football League auditors who will visit Swansea next week.

Meanwhile, Jered Stirling has been released by the club.

On why Tony Petty took charge

"Because I thought Mel Nurse was coming in, I had put talks with other possible investors on ice — I had lost one month of the three I had to secure new investment.

Then came Tony Petty. He flew over to Britain and I did the deal with him. The rest of the board knew I was meeting with him, they knew the purpose of the meeting and they knew there was no one else in the wings.

At the time there was a strong indication he could secure backing from Australia as long as the club could be seen to be getting its business sorted, which meant doing some of the things he has done, including ripping up the players' contracts.

I want it to be known that there was no option other than Tony Petty and that the Mel Nurse situation was not as it was reported. I have to get that off my chest. It doesn't really matter whether people believe me or not."

On the men from the Brisbane Lions

"We certainly showed the Australians a good time when they came over and painted a good picture of the UK. We took them to Spurs and to an England game and everything else.

But when they went back it was pretty obvious — and Tony admitted this — that they had reservations. So that never materialized."

On his own position once Petty took over

"I asked Tony what my role was and he said he would like to keep me on board in some capacity, which was an adviser on the Morfa, and I agreed. I did not want a directorship "

On why Mel Nurse did not take over last summer

"We were hoping for interest from the Martin Morgan's or the Roy Thomases of this world, the local people.

Unfortunately, there was not much local response so we ended up talking to lots of different interests. Some were British, one was Irish, two were African.

Then last July on the club's annual golf day. Mel Nurse said Forget the rest because he would pay £250,000 to £300,000 for 51 per cent of the shares.

It shook me to the core that he was prepared to bail us out but did not want to be chairman. We shook on the deal that night.

A week later I had not heard from Mel found him and. with his head in his hands. he said the bank had let him down. Before now I have always said refused lo accept his money, not that he couldn't produce it.

That was in defence of a man 1 respect but people keep saying to me 'Why didn't you give the club to Mel in the summer''' and I have to put the record straight.

Martin Burgess knows that when I wanted. the money It wasn't there. That's why it is so ironic now when I see him and Mel chin wagging."

On Pettys actions as chairman

"He came in fresh and brash and honest - I think in his own mind his honest intentions, were to put the club right.

He became unpopular very quickly, as I did as the man who had done the deal. He made lots of errors. Don't we all."

On Martin Burgess

"He has been a little bit naughty. When I was on my own during the summer I spoke to Martin and said "Look the canoe is on the river bank and the water is quite smooth and we can keep the club going for a while with what we have got, but I need to know that when the rapids start you will be on my side.

We knew they would come in October or November, but Martin would not commit himself. He was not prepared to jump in the boat.

So at that time I had to separate myself from Martin's activities- He was producing good paperwork for us but I just fell I had lost his commitment.

Since then. it's pretty obvious the guy had a separate agenda and maybe he was working against us even back in the summer.

He was supportive, but he did not come up with any contacts which might have been of some use to the club.

The other disappointing thing for a financial director who was very well paid is that he now has a claim against the club just tike John Hollins."

On regrets

"I have huge regrets because I look back now and think I could have kept the club going and I think by now I would have attracted local investment.

I have never had any other intentions than to do my best for Swansea City — I love this club.

I am not asking people to forgive and forget, just to understand my position. What would they have done?

Some would say I should have carried on and maybe they're right. But I did not, and you have to pay the price for your actions.

The situation the club is now, hardly a minute goes by when I don't think 'If only'."

On the £250,000 he apparently asked the council for

"There was a heavy financial investment from Ninth Floor and in turn from the club in assessments and studies on the Morfa.

Some of it was covered by a Football Trust grant, but around £250,000 was not.

I wrote to the council to ask if they were aware of this. They said provide evidence of the expenditure — which I am in the process of doing — and they would consider the situation.

By that I don't think they mean cash will change hands, but something may be built into the management agreement of the new stadium, perhaps the amount of rent the club has to pay."

On his involvement in transfers

"Tony Petty has tried to off-load some of the higher earners since he arrived.

For example, Matthew Bound is at Oxford. That was nothing to do with me. All I did was introduce Tony to the chief executive of Oxford, a friend of mine.

The chairman of Barnsley knows me and he rang me. He decided to make an offer for Mamady Sidibe so I put him on to Tony Petty.

I am not in the business of moving any player on."

On suggestions he receives 10 per cent of any transfer fee

"There's definitely no truth in that. You can look at my service contract with the club if you want."

On the 'Striker' lottery competition

"Phil Chant has worked-with me at several clubs since 1984 and has never been questioned about his activities. There seem to be some endeavors on the part of people who want to see this club suffer to contact the police to say there's something going wrong.

The police have not been near the place. There have been no phone calls and no letters. If anyone wants to inspect the promotions department books they can because they are absolutely squeaky clean. Phil Chant did remain a signatory too long after he left. but that was because of neglect rather than anything sinister."

On the Supporters Trust

"A few months ago I told Marilyn Croft (trust spokesman) that £140,000 would buy 10 per cent of the club. She said the trust could achieve that.

Well where is the money?

They have got £20,000 apparently. We need a sense of reality. Football clubs need a Sam Hammam. or at least a lot more than a trust.

Cries of 'hand the club to us' from the trust are not the answer, though they should be part of it."

On his pay-off

"There was an agreement to retain my services at the club over 18 months as a consultant, As it has turned out, I have not received a penny since Tony Petty arrived and that is still being discussed."

On why, in that case, he is still at the club

"Maybe I'm soft and stupid. I do not ' want to see Don Goss put on the spike here for everything.

There's nothing else I can go into anyway at the moment, though I am working on setting up my own business advising other clubs.

I also don't want to walk out on the Morfa project."

On allegations that Petty has taken money from the club for himself

"All I would say is that I have seen no proof of that."

On his own future

"I don't really know. I will stay here for as long as I can afford to.

I would like to see the takeover through, but I have no pretences about a position in the club after that.

I would stay on and look after the Morfa if asked."

On the club's future

"Tony Petty is talking to three interested parties, two of which are my contacts. I'm not looking for a pat on the back, just putting it on the record.

I am hoping beyond hope the discussions going on now come to fruition.

League football is vital to this city, to the Morfa and to the fans."

SWANSEA City fans are hoping Tony Petty will be brought to account by the Football League.

Mews that Mr Petty and chief executes John Shuttleworth have been summoned to the League has come as little surprise to most of Swansea's loyal fans They have welcomed the fact that the chairman's running of the club is being investigated, although they fear nothing will happen.

Mr Petty infuriated fans with a series of cost-cutting measures, including setting top players and sacking long-serving staff. Swans fans say the future has never seemed more uncertain.

"Hopefully he will be brought to book. But first he has to come back.

"I don't think he will though You don't come back to face the music when you don't like the song that's playing." "No wonder the League is investigating him if Swans couldn't give Queens Park Rangers their money

"They had £100,000 from Sky before the match "My own opinion is that the money the Swans had for the cup tie should have been used to pay QPR their share."

"it's shocking and annoying what Mr Petty has gone and done.

Its annoying that people can get away with it."
Wayne Davies
Organiser of trips to Swans' away games with Amman Tours.

"It will be interesting to see if Petty and Shuttleworth comply with the League

"He doesn't seem to have by the same reasonable set of rules as Swansea fans "
Gary Martin
Supporter.

SAM Hammam has revealed how a message from a Swansea City fan after last weekend's Cup clash with Leeds United meant more than the victory itself.

"My heart has been touched by this message of support from Swansea. It said 'Congratulations from the Swansea jacks'." said Hammam.

"'It's an amazing gesture. "In fact. I rated the gesture as a higher point than Scott Young's winning goal against Leeds. "

The sender is telling me Cardiff City and Swansea City are together and that is exactly how it should be in Wales.

"It's clear to me that our day of success is also their day of success and vice-versa."

Hammam is thought to have received the message on his mobile phone shortly alter Cardiff's 2-1 triumph over the Premiership leaders.

He said it was sent by a member of Swansea's official supporters club, but the club does not have one.

Where it actually came from remains a mystery, with both FOSFA - Swansea's official travel club - and the Supporters Trust ruling them selves out.

MIKE Lewis has predicted Swansea City will have new owners within seven days.

Former Swansea chairman Lewis, still working at Vetch Field in an advisory capacity, took part in discussions with one of the three separate groups interested in taking over yesterday.

Jim Moore, a representative of London based property developer Mel Griffin, spent four hours at the club.

He described the outcome of the talks with Lewis and director Don Goss as positive, but Griffins group are thought to be mainly concerned with redevelopment of the Vetch.

Also wanting to take over from the hugely unpopular Tony Petty is the consortium of local businessmen headed by Mel Nurse.

The Evening Post can today reveal the third possibility — Palestinian businessman with Swansea connections The man — the Post has decided not to reveal his identity in case it jeopardizes a possible deal — held talks with Goss at the Vetch earlier this week.

Another London based property developer he is also a football agent and holds stakes in two clubs in Israel.

“I think over the next seven days there's going to be a major transaction here said Lewis at the Vetch yesterday.

I have suggested to Tony Petty through John Shuttleworth that he hand the club back to me and then I will call all those who are interested together and hand it on myself.

I would give him his £1 back but I don t think it's an idea he likes the sound of.

POLICE could refuse to man Swansea. City home games because they are owed money from earlier in the season. Without a police presence, the matches would have to be called off.

Managers of the cash-starved club have yet to hand over payments believed to he around £8,000. The unpaid bill put in by the police relates to four matches at Vetch field. It comes on top of £10,000 the Third Division club owes Queen's Park Rangers for its share of gate receipts from their FA Cup clash last November.

Negotiations are currently on going between the police and the club to resolve the problem. But if no money is forthcoming senior officers' could decide to pull the plug on police cover al Vetch Field.

Trial would almost certainly mean the safety advisory group - made up of fire, police, and ambulance. Council and club officials - being forced to withhold certificates enabling a game to go-ahead. Cancelled games would, deny the club income, piling more pressure on its finance.

It would also mean some questions being asked by the Football League. Chief Inspector Mark Mathias said: "South Wales Police has charge the Swans in line with national guidelines, "There are existing monies outstanding. We are asking for the money to be paid.

"If they don't pay. there is the option to withdraw our services,"

A Swans spokesman said: "This is not a new scenario. Historically, the club has always been a little backwards in paying the police and the sum owed is actually the lowest for some years.

"We are making every effort to pay off the sum and we don't envisage the police having withdraw cover "

A TEENAGE Swans fan is using pedal power to help save his beloved club.

Steven Burke, aged 15, of Talley Road, Penlan, plans to cycle all the way from Swansea City's Vetch Field home to the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff to raise money for the beleaguered club's supporters' trust.

The trust needs to raise money to safeguard the future of the club.

It plans to join forces with the consortium headed by former player and director Mel Nurse, which is poised to take control of the Swans from controversial chairman Tony Petty.

Steven, a pupil at Daniel James Community School, said he and his stepfather came up with the sponsored bike ride idea because they were concerned about the future of the club.

Determined Steven, who is a season ticket holder and a member of the supporters' trust, wants to raise at least £800 through his 45-mile ride.

''My stepfather will be behind me in his van all the way, '' said Steven.

''I don't know how long it's going to take.'' The determined youngster, who watches most home and away games, raised £68 on his first day of sponsorship collection.

''The people of Swansea are very generous and will not let the club die, '' he said.

(Steven is doing the ride on February 3 and anyone who wants to sponsor him should call 01792 422291.

THESE are the main problems facing Swansea City:

Transfer embargo the club is not currently allowed to sign any new players because of its difficulties;

£75,000 is owed to the Professional Footballers' Association after it loaned the club the money to cover players' wages;

The club is facing expulsion from next season's FA Cup unless £10,000 owed to Queens Park Rangers for outstanding gate receipts is paid within five days;

The club is currently being investigated by Inland Revenue and VAT inspectors over lack of payments;

Police may refuse to attend Swansea's next home game unless £8,000 owed to the South Wales force is paid; and, Former manager John Hollins and is still owed compensation after being sacked.

THE Football League has called into question Tony Petty's running of Swansea City.

It is also concerned that the club may not be able to fulfil its fixtures this season.

In a letter to the club chairman, the contents of which have been leaked to the Evening Post, the League said it suspects financial mismanagement at the club.

As a result, Mr Petty and chief executive John Shuttleworth have been asked to attend a meeting on Monday at the League's Preston headquarters.

The letter, copies of which were sent to Mr Shuttleworth and Vetch secretary Jackie Rockey, lists 15 issues on which the League wants answers.

''A number of the matters referred to give rise to concern over the ability of Swansea City AFC to complete its fixtures for this season, '' said the letter, which is signed by the League's director of finance, Tad Detko.

''Further, the issue of stopping a cheque paid to Queens Park Rangers gives rise to a suspicion of financial irregularity at the club.

''The League has the power and indeed the duty to investigate any complaint made to it.

''It is with this in mind that, along with Nick Craig, our house solicitor, I would like to meet you and John Shuttleworth to discuss these matters and hope that you will be able to attend the meeting as requested.

''Should you wish your legal representatives to attend, this shall be acceptable.'' Mr Shuttleworth has not been at the club since December 12. Mr Petty is currently in Australia.

His spokesman said today: ''He has seen the letter from the Football League and has spoken to them about it.

''The only irregularity at the club, as he informed them, is the immediate lack of funds.

''He has informed the Football League that he will not be able to make the meeting on Monday as a result of commitments in Australia but he is happy to provide them with whatever information is required in due course.''

A WAR of words has broken out between former Swansea City owners Ninth Floor and former club chairman Mike Lewis about who is owed £200,000.

The money was spent by Ninth Floor when it was called Silver Shield on initial survey work for the planned Morfa Stadium development.

Ninth Floor has since pulled out as developer of the project, which has been taken over by Swansea Council and the company Miller Developments.

Mr Lewis claims the council should return the money because the feasibility studies have been used to drive the planned stadium development to the stage it is at today.

He claims the money was spent on the club's behalf by Ninth Floor, and that the cash should therefore be returned to the Swans.

But Ninth Floor chief executive Alan Wix said if money was owed, it should be paid to his company as it put up the cash in the first place.

''I have all the invoices regarding the feasibility studies and they are all in Silver Shield's name, '' said Mr Wix.

''I don't know whether the council has to reimburse us but I have now written to them asking us to be included in any investigation.'' Mr Lewis said: ''The money was spent on behalf of the football club and this is proved by the fact that some of the cash came from the Football Trust which will only finance football clubs, '' said Mr Lewis.

''It was paid out for preparatory work, which resulted in outline planning permission for the stadium being given.

''The football club pulled out as stadium developer but the preparatory work has been used to get the development to where it is today.

''I wrote to the council on the club's behalf and the council has asked the club to substantiate the claim in terms of documentation which we are now locating.'' Swansea Council refused to comment.

FOOTBALL legend John Charles is to receive the Freedom of his home city.

Swansea City and County Council leader Lawrence Bailey announced to councillors yesterday that the former Leeds and Juventus star nicknamed il Gigante Buono (the Gentle Giant) would receive the Freedom of the City at a ceremony later this year.

"John Charles is probably the city's most famous sportsman ever. He has always been an ambassador for Swansea," Mr Bailey said yesterday,

The star's brother Mel, the ex Arsenal, Swansea and Cardiff player, said the decision was "brilliant" and added that more should have been done to honour his elder brother.

"He has to be the finest sporting ambassador this country has produced. But he's starting to get on a bit now and I feel we should have done something a long time before this," he said.

John Charles said at his Leeds home yesterday, "I have still have a huge affection for Swansea and this will be a great honour for me."

There has been a campaign to have Charles knighted, so far without success. He was made a CBE last June. The former centre back and centre forward was, however, moved to tears when he received a Lifetime Achievement Award in the BBC Sports Personality of the Year ceremony.

The star, now 70, led out the teams at the FA Cup clash between his old clubs, Cardiff City and Leeds United, at Ninian Park at the weekend.

John Charles was an apprentice for the former Swansea Town FC but never played a league match for the Swans.

Oxford United's on-loan defender Matthew Bound will be absent from the line-up when Swansea travel to the Kassam Stadium.

Bound left Vetch Field to join Ian Atkins' side for a month and is hopeful of agreeing a permanent deal with Oxford.

But the Swans do not want the centre-back to play against them.

Director of football Atkins will also be without Wayne Hatswell and Dave Savage who are suspended.

However, midfielders Paul Tait and Martin Thomas are back in contention after successful fights against injury.

But winger Joey Beauchamp looks likely to miss out again with a recurrence of a toe problem.

Darren Patterson is stepping up his training after recovering from a damaged Achilles but he is not ready, while Rob Folland is also out.

Jenkins recall

Swansea City manager Colin Addison may hand a recall to midfielder Lee Jenkins for the game.

Jenkins made his comeback from ankle ligament problems, which have kept him out for three months, in a reserve game with Bath City.

He is not expected to earn a starting place but could come into Addison's squad, although striker Steve Brodie is unlikely to be available because of a hamstring strain.

Influential forward Mamady Sidibe is still out after travelling to France to receive treatment on his ankle ligament injury.

The Swans have allowed the Argentinian midfielder Nicolas Mazzina to join Scottish Premiership giants Livingston on trial. Former boss John Hollins signed the former Argentina Under-21 international after he impressed on trial at the Vetch Field.

The 22-year-old is now hoping to impress The Livi Lions chiefs into offering him a contract at Almondvale.

Mazzina has made only four appearances all season and is yet to play under new manager Colin Addison, and he is eager to leave the club in search of regular first-team action.

Swans spokesman Peter Owen told TEAMtalk: "I can confirm that Nicolas has joined Livingston and will be with the club on a week-long trial."

The youngster has already had unsuccessful trials with Walsall and Motherwell but he is hopeful of securing a deal with Livingston, who have surprised the rest of the Scottish Premier League by rising to third.

Takeover draws close

The consortium led by the former Vetch Director Mel Nurse are expected to view the club's financial books with accountants next week.

The current owner Tony Petty admitted for the first time yesterday that he was willing to sell his stake in the club to the consortium headed by Nurse.

A spokesmen for the consortium said: "They'll be viewed by a local firm of accountants and then hopefully talks can begin with regards to a formal takeover. We need to see the exact state of the money first though."

Petty still admits he has another consortium interested, an the Nurse group say if any such grouping is ready, available and willing to take the club forward with financial backing they would not stand in their way.

Defender Bound for United

Oxford Director of football Ian Atkins has confirmed he wants to keep Swans on-loan centre-back Matthew Bound at the Kassam Stadium.

Bound was farmed out by owner Tony Petty in an attempt to cut wages at the Vetch Field. And U's boss Atkins has admitted that he is keen to keep the 29-year-old at the club.

He said: "I brought him here to show what he could do over a long period rather than just a month.

"The loan was the best way of getting him here, and he is just the type of personality we need at the club." Bound was non-committal about his future saying he was monitoring events.

However, he will not be allowed to play in Saturday's clash between the two sides.

FORMER Swansea City chairman Mike Lewis was last night embroiled in a bitter row with previous owner Ninth Floor plc over a sum of more than £200,000 he believes should be returned to the club.

Ninth Floor, which sold the struggling Third Division side to Lewis for £1 last summer, spent the money on feasibility studies into the club's proposed switch to Morfa Stadium.

The City and County of Swansea is now the driving force behind the stadium project as the local authority insisted on retaining the land on which the 20,000-capacity stadium is to be built.

For that reason Lewis - who said he is acting as an unpaid advisor at Swansea after selling the club to Tony Petty in October - believes the council could be in a position to return the £200,000 to the club to help ease the Vetch cash crisis.

But Lewis's comments have stunned Ninth Floor, who insist the money would belong to them.

"All invoices for the feasibility studies into Morfa Stadium were made out to Silver Shield, which is now Ninth Floor," chief executive Alan Wix told The Western Mail last night.

"Was the money appropriated to Swansea City Football Club? Absolutely not.

"I don't know if the money is recoverable. But if there is a debate, I've contacted the City and Council of Swansea to make sure we're part of it."

Wix - whose predecessor is former Swans chairman Neil McClure - added, "As for Mike (Lewis), he contacted the person who was project manager in the early days of the Morfa Stadium with a view to obtaining the invoices.

"Why hasn't he contacted me? Probably because he knows he's not going to enjoy the reply."

But Lewis, who has been bombarded with abuse from Swans supporters since selling the club to Petty, insisted last night, "Ninth Floor appropriated the money to the football club.

"Swansea paid the bills for the feasibility studies and that's why I've written to the council on the club's behalf.

"Everyone knows the club's financial situation and I'm doing whatever I feel I can to patch one or two things up."

Lewis revealed he was yet to receive a pay-off from Petty, agreed when the businessman took over at the Vetch last year.

"I was advised I would be paid a sum over a two-year period - which I can tell you isn't £80,000, as has been quoted," he said.

"I haven't received it yet. I'm being very patient. I don't want to put the club in jeopardy by issuing a writ."

Meanwhile, the City and Council of Swansea said it was "unusual" for a developer to be reimbursed money spent on feasibility studies.

And the authority fended off criticism from Swans' supporters by insisting it was committed to helping the football club survive.

"The council is doing all it possibly can to maintain football in Swansea by considering a range of issues - including the development of the Morfa Stadium," said a spokesperson.

MEL NURSE yesterday took steps to resume his courtroom battle with controversial Swans chairman Tony Petty.

The former Swansea director failed to force the Third Division club into administration in November when Petty lodged £100,000 to cover the club's debt Nurse bought from previous owners Ninth Floor plc.

Petty told the court he had £1.1m in pledges to pump into the cash-strapped club - money Nurse claims hasn't materialised.

"Mel has made contact with his solicitors regarding the possibility of the judge rehearing the case due to these pledges not materialising," said a spokesman for Nurse's consortium.

MEL NURSE last night warned his consortium could not strike a deal to buy out controversial Swansea City chairman Tony Petty until the businessman returns from Australia and meets representatives face-to-face.

Petty was yesterday reported to have agreed to sell the cash-strapped Third Division club to Newco, the holding company established by Nurse and his group of 12 local business people and supporters.

It was claimed the consortium would be allowed to see Swansea's accounts in the next few days - meaning the club could possibly change hands before the clash with Macclesfield Town on January 19.

But a consortium spokesman insisted the deal was "far from signed and sealed."

And former Swans director Nurse stressed no buy-out could take place until Petty returns from Australia and meets the group to discuss the terms and conditions.

"I'm hoping and praying that what I'm hearing and what I'm reading in the newspapers about Tony being ready to sell the club is true," said Nurse.

"We're ready to go in and make surethat SwanseaCityFootballClub survives. But at the moment it's just guesswork - everything depends on what Tony's intentions are.

"The one thing I do know is that we can't buy the club until we've sat down with Tony, had the chance to discuss a few things and take a look at the club's accounts."

Nurse has met his solicitors to discuss the possibility of resuming his courtroom battle with Petty after claims the £1.3m in pledges the businessman said he had to pump into Swansea have failed to materialise.

And he insisted he had no regrets about the original court case in November - despite his failure to force the club into administration and win control of the Vetch from Petty.

"I don't regret bringing the case because it led to Tony telling the judge and everybody in the room he had money to invest in the club - even though it doesn't seem to have materialised.

"I'm considering whether I should try to get the case re-heard."

Petty last night dismissed reports he had agreed to relinquish control of Swansea City to Nurse's consortium.

A spokesman for the businessman insisted Petty had only agreed to discuss a possible sale.

SWANSEA CITY yesterday received a letter from the Football Association warning it had seven days to address the non-payment of gate receipts to FA Cup first-round opponents Queens Park Rangers.

And the club was told it faces a heavy fine or even suspension from next season's FA Cup if it fails to pay the missing £10,000.

"If Swansea pay QPR the money within seven days that could be the end of the matter," said an FA spokesman. "If that doesn't happen, it is for our cup committee to decide what action should be taken."

A spokesman for Swans' chairman Tony Petty said, "We've said that some payments have been delayed and these payments are being met as we're able."

SWANSEA City goalkeeper Roger Freestone praised opposite number Alan Marriott after the goalless draw with Lincoln.

In difficult conditions, former Tottenham stopper Marriott was on hand each time the home side surged towards goal.

His biggest intervention came just after half-time, when he saved from Jonathan Coates at one post, then raced to the other corner to deflect Michael Howard's goalbound shot.

Freestone did not have a quiet afternoon himself, but reckoned 23-year-old Marriott's performance denied Swansea all three points.

''It was a disappointing game for us to a certain extent, but their keeper deserves great credit, '' said Freestone.

''He made four or five outstanding saves and really he kept them in it. I felt it was just a matter of time before we would score, but Marriott was brilliant and you have got to take your hat off to him.'' Marriott's efforts might have earned Lincoln all three points had Dave Cameron and Lee Thorpe not spurned good chances at the other end.

But after his third clean sheet in five matches, Freestone insisted Swansea were not under any real threat.

''We dominated from start to finish, yet it was the sort of game a few months ago we could have ended up losing 1-0.

''That was mentioned in the changing rooms, and I think we've battened down the hatches now.

''We are not conceding as many goals as we were and we looked comfortable throughout against Lincoln.

''The draw keeps the unbeaten run going and the more we go unbeaten, the more confident we get. I think that is starting to show.'' Lincoln boss Alan Buckley joined in the praise of Marriott, adding: ''I thought he was outstanding in the first 45 minutes.

''They had a good look at us two or three times and Marriott's handling was faultless. I was delighted with him.''

Swansea City 0 Lincoln City 0

FA CUP third-round fever may not have hit Swansea, but tongues were wagging again at Vetch Field on Saturday as their dramatic season continued.

Nothing to do with the game, of course. For Swansea served up another mediocre performance and failed to break down a poor Lincoln City side struggling below them in Division Three.

The rain and mist did not help the spectacle, but yet again it was the shadow of off-field problems which loomed over Swansea's efforts on the pitch.

New Year, same problems only they are deepening.

Many of the rumours, it seems, are coming true.

Another match day where the match was of secondary importance.

All talk before, during and after the game was of police investigations, bouncing cheques and mounting debts.

Few, if any, were as football fans should have been cursing Lincoln goalkeeper Alan Marriott, whose acrobatics denied the home side all three points.

No one was berating visiting centre-forward Dave Cameron for his dreadful miss when clean through on Roger Freestone's goal.

The only Striker on anyone's lips was the one involving £1s, tickets and prizes and now the police.

Even the Tannoy man got involved, joking that no-one should mention the competition as he plugged the separate half-time draw.

Ever since Tony Petty slipped into Vetch Field via the back door in October, the club has lurched from one offfield drama to another.

Those dramas have bubbled up into a crisis which must now be addressed. Even Swansea manager Colin Addison, normally so keen to skirt round off-field issues in his post-match press conferences, aired his deep concerns.

And his suggested cure?

New owners with the right intentions ''to take Swansea City forward''.

They will have to haul it up to the starting-line first.

An indication of Addison's stance came before kick-off.

The vastly-experienced manager took the extremely unusual step of leading his back-up team and substitutes out to the centre circle with the first X1.

His rain-soaked hand holding a microphone, Addison delivered a short speech to the crowd.

''I have done it before in Spain and I felt it was the right thing to do, '' he explained afterwards.

''I have my opinions, but I do not shout my mouth off. I just thought it would be nice, from everyone in the club, to say thank you to the fans and Happy New Year.

''Their backing has been great, and it was again on Saturday.'' Addison gave away his true motivation with the opening words of his speech ''In difficult times for the club. . .'' He, just like everyone else associated with Swansea City in whatever capacity, has had enough.

Addison knew when he took over from John Hollins that the club was about to change hands. He did not know what has arguably been the stormiest period in the club's history would follow.

Considering some of the hammer blows dealt Swansea in the past three months the player 'sackings' and the unpaid wages to name just two of them Addison's squad have done remarkably well to manufacture their current five-game unbeaten run.

Lincoln was the least impressive of the three draws and two wins which have come since Swansea's disastrous 4-0 FA cup exit at Macclesfield.

They could not find the killer pass going forward and were generally restricted to long-range efforts.

There was one sweet move in each half. Nick Cusack's piercing 22nd minute ball found Terry Evans on the right and his low cross was met by Steve Watkin.

The 30-year-old's volley was well-struck, but skimmed too close to Marriott.

The Imps 'keeper was on hand twice early in the second period, first to deny Jonathan Coates and then seconds later Michael Howard.

There were other near misses at both ends, but on afternoon when all eyes were once again not totally focused on the game, the goalless draw was somehow a fitting result.

As part of one of only two Third Division games played, Addison's men had failed to take full advantage of their rivals' weekend off.

But they were not defeated and moved up one spot to 13th in the table.

Addison would be entitled to a few optimistic thoughts about what he might achieve should the forward-looking owners he craves come to fruition.

Maybe then at long last news of the Swans' exploits will return to the back pages of this and other newspapers, and the drama of the FA Cup third round will again be the talk of the Vetch.

SWANSEA CITY chairman Tony Petty last night angrily refuted speculation he is about to plunge the troubled Third Division club into liquidation.

But Swansea could face the prospect of a heavy fine or even a suspension from next season's FA Cup competition following the non-payment of gate receipts to November's first-round opponents Queens Park Rangers.

And it is understood a cheque sent to Reading to cover Nathan Tyson's two-month loan spell at the Vetch has bounced, though the Football Association said it hadn't received a complaint from the Madejski Stadium.

"I don't want to go into that," Petty told The Western Mail last night.

"The real issue is this rumour about me putting the club into liquidation - absolute rubbish.

"Such mindless rumours are damaging the club and it's bitterly disappointing that those responsible aren't getting behind the club instead of trying to sink it."

With the Swans' cash crisis worsening, it has been rumoured yesterday that liquidators will be called in at the Vetch by the end of the week - either on Petty's instruction or by one of the club's creditors.

It is understood that a cheque of more than £10,000 was made out to QPR last month before the transaction was stopped.

A spokesman for West London club last night said they held on to cash received for ticket sales to their own supporters to make up the deficit.

And cheques made out to backroom staff at Swansea have also been returned, though a spokesman said this was due to a technical problem rather than a lack of funds.

Admitted Petty, "Some payments have been delayed and the club is meeting these payments, as it is able.

"We're relying on people's patience in the meantime and are confident that, in due course, all the club's commitments will be met in full."

The consortium led by former Swansea director Mel Nurse said it was waiting in the wings to take over should the club slide into liquidation.

But with Swansea around £500,000 in debt, a group spokesman warned the rescue bid would fail unless it received "substantial" financial backing from supporters.

"We don't know what Mr Petty's next move will be - at this stage the rumour regarding liquidation is nothing more," he said.

"But we believe the next two weeks will perhaps be the most critical in Swansea City's history."

The fear among Swans supporters is that Petty will decide the club is no longer viable and opt for voluntary liquidation or one of the club's creditors will call the liquidators in.

And if Nurse's consortium manages to save Swansea, it is desperate for more financial backing should it be saddled with the club's debt.

But Petty insisted, "The club is continuing to speak with potential purchasers and we're hopeful that formal agreement on the sale of the club will soon be reached."

Donations to Nurse's consortium can be made by phoning Swansea City Supporters' Trust on 01792 799082 or by e-mailing newco2002@hotmail.com.

FANS calling for the removal of chairman Tony Petty, loud protests literally silencing Swansea City's official radio station and the visiting goalkeeper keeping a clean sheet.

Just another routine afternoon at the Vetch. One day a football match might be played at Swansea that everyone gives their full and undivided attention to.

But then maybe not if the rumours sweeping Swansea are to be believed. The latest internet-fuelled gossip suggested this was the Swans' final stand with concerns that the liquidation of the club is still very much an option for Australia-based Petty.

Scaremongering or not, the claims persuaded a group of fans - one of whose number with an anti-Petty T-shirt had already infiltrated a sparsely-populated directors' box - to make their point to the media.

Such was the aggressive and concentrated nature of the protest that Real Radio's live feed was forced off the air for five minutes until police officers belatedly arrived to restore order - and commentary.

On the back of reports that detectives are investigating the alleged mismanagement of a lottery competition at the club, and that Queens Park Rangers have not received their share of gate receipts from a Vetch FA Cup tie in November, it was another wholly un-satisfactory day off the pitch for Swansea City.

On it, the outcome was as predictable as a `Petty Out' chant from the North Bank. Swansea failed to score for the eighth time in 13 home league matches this season - and the sixth time in the last eight games.

But it wasn't for the want of effort, particularly in the first period, as Lincoln goalkeeper Alan Marriott laid claim to the man-ofthe-match award with a series of excellent stops.

The positive notes were the stretching of an un-beaten run to five matches, while Swansea climbed one place to 13th and within striking distance of the top half of the table.

There was also comfort in the performances of Steve Brodie, impressive in the `hole' before picking up a hamstring injury late on, and Steve Watkin who was unfortunate not to improve on the three goals of his previous three games.

"We did everything but score," said manager Colin Addison after marking Swansea's first game of 2002 by wishing the fans a happy New Year in a pre-match message from the centre circle.

"It just wouldn't go in but two months ago we could have lost this game. Now we look more solid at the back and we fought and battled well."

Lincoln manager Alan Buckley once cleaned Addison's boots during his days on the ground staff at Nottingham Forest, and he must have thought he was cast in the role of apprentice again as Swansea swarmed forward from the kick-off.

Marriott's handling was flawless on a skiddy surface as he held Nick Cusack's drilled free-kick while leaving both Watkin and John Williams bemused before the interval.

Addison was also convinced that Swansea should have been awarded a seventh-minute penalty as Mark Camm appeared to handle Michael Howard's header.

But referee Paul Danson curiously sought advice from his touch-line assistant, even though he was 40 yards nearer the incident. The assistant was unimpressed and Swansea's early momentum fizzled out.

Three points, however, would have been secured but for Marriott's agility after the re-start thwarting Jonathan Coates and Howard within moments of each other.

The remainder was largely a non-event and those radio listeners in truth didn't miss a great deal when their commentary was disrupted.

Addison, too, was also interrupted as he reflected on the two points that had slipped away.

"Phone call for you," said Addison's assistant Peter Nicholas breaking into the press conference - "Tony Petty."

At least, humour lives on among the mess at Swansea City.

SWANSEA CITY could face a Football Association probe into the non-payment of FA Cup gate receipts to first-round opponents Queens Park Rangers.

QPR - who lost the November tie 4-0 at The Vetch Field - have disclosed they are still owed their share of the gate receipts from the live televised contest.

It is understood that a cheque of more than £10,000 was made out to the West London club last month before the transaction was stopped.

And, with Swansea's cash crisis worsening under controversial chairman Tony Petty, QPR have revealed they held onto the cash received for ticket sales to their own supporters.

Now Swansea - who already have a transfer embargo placed on them - could face serious sanctions should QPR make an official complaint to the FA.

"It is serious," said manager Colin Addison after Swansea's goalless draw with Lincoln. "They (QPR) could take action and they might even take action.

"It doesn't bear thinking about and it's very sad for everyone concerned with the club to hear this news.

"But we've got to face up to it and hope that the club's future is sorted out sooner rather than later.

"A city as big as Swansea and a club as big as Swansea City should be able to persuade someone to come in and help.

"There's got to be someone out there who really wants to help Swansea City.

"I don't see this club dying - I don't think that's going to happen. But we need stability from the top, the club's got to have it."