Swansea City have been taken over by a consortium of local businessmen and fans led by former Wales international Mel Nurse.

The consortium has acquired all the shares of the previous major shareholder Tony Petty, who has resigned from the club.

A statement issued by the group said: "We can confirm that the consortium includes ex-Swansea and Wales international player, and long-time supporter of the club, Mel Nurse.

"Other members of the consortium are all local people, or people with roots or connections with Swansea, all of whom have made a financial contribution towards the acquisition of Mr Petty's shares.

"Members of the consortium include Mel Nurse, Brian Katzen, Gareth Keen, David Morgan, the Swansea City Supporters Trust and other donors who presently wish to remain anonymous, but who care for the future of Swansea and its football club.

"Other potential investors are already talking to the consortium and we are keen to hear from others.

"The Swansea Supporters Trust have taken an active role in the consortium's activities, and our deep thanks goes to the trust representatives and, of course, to the loyal Swansea fans, who have contributed their time, efforts and money to that cause.

"The Trust will continue to have an active role in the future of the club."

THE new owners of Swansea City began their Vetch Field reign yesterday - and their first act was to put the Third Division club up for sale.

The consortium led by local businessman and Swans legend Mel Nurse admitted it "didn't want to own" the cash-starved club and that it would - step aside tomorrow" if a wealthy new owner wanted to take control.

And Nurse said former manager John Hollins was partly to blame for the club's current financial plight because he agreed contracts with players that the club could not afford.

"He's been in football a long time and should know you can't pay top-level wages at our level," he said.

"He was part and parcel of what went on here before. He should have tried to keep players' wages to a minimum."

The new owners also said the players were - over the moon that Tony Petty is no longer part of the scenario at Swansea City while manager Colin Addison "was very pleased".

The consortium, which includes the club's former finance director Martin Burgess, the Swansea City Supporters' Trust as well as local investors who want to remain anonymous, acquired control of the Swans from Petty at 11pm on Wednesday night.

It decided to move for the Swans because it feared Petty would liquidate the club if he did not find a new owner within the next few days.

Nurse, who unsuccessfully tried to oust Petty last November by forcing the club into administration, said last night, "We've done what we've done because we wanted the club to survive. What was the other option?

"We don't want to own the club. We were always a survival package, nothing more. If somebody out there wishes to purchase the club, then brilliant."

David Morgan, a key figure on the consortium, added, "If there's someone who wants to pump millions and millions into this club to make it a force then we will stand to one side tomorrow.

"But we will stay in control as long as we need to."

The new owners refused to discuss details of the deal with Petty although Burgess said he walked away with "a fraction" of the £50,000 he would have received had the Melvin Griffin-led consortium bought the club earlier this week.

But Burgess conceded the controversial Petty, who acquired the club from Mike Lewis last October for £1, had made a profit.

He also said the make-up of the new Swans board - including who would assume the roles of chairman and managing director - had not yet been decided.

"We are adequately funded but I wouldn't say we're well-funded. It would be a lot easier if investors came forward," said Burgess.

"The consortium was set up as lifeboat for the club if no one came forward to buy it.

"We would be very interested in potential investors and we hope local businesses come forward to help us.

"We are confident we can keep the club going although it's not going to be easy. But we're confident we'll do it.

"As everyone knows there is a loan in place from the Professional Footballers' Association and that has meant a transfer embargo. We will try and sort this out as soon as we can."

Quizzed about the club's creditors, which include the Inland Revenue (£250,000) and Hollins (£200,000), Burgess replied, "We haven't had a chance to look at the books yet, so we're not up to date with situation.

"We do owe money to the Inland Revenue but the most pressing debt is £30,000 owed in VAT to Customs and Excise.

"If we get sensible offers for players then we will have to look at them and that's the same for every football club, whether it's in the Premiership or the Third Division."

Nurse, who owns a string of properties in Swansea including the Sea Haven Hotel, added, "I think we can keep the club going. I wouldn't have got involved otherwise."

ROCHDALE fans have not taken long to get on the back of their new boss John Hollins.

The ex-Swansea chief has been in charge for six games and in that time the side have managed one win, been beaten twice and drawn three times.

The slump in form has coincided with Hollins's arrival and the departure of former manager Steve Parkin to Barnsley.

Now, the Spotland supporters are letting Hollins know how they feel.

One has even asked if Swansea fans could bring with them their 'Hollins out' banners they had last season when Swansea were relegated back to Division Three.

There is a fans' forum tonight at the Rochdale ground where Hollins is due to meet the Spotland faithful.

While this is a regular event at the Lancashire club, there is no doubt they will be asking the new manager some questions about why things have gone wrong since his arrival.

Hollins felt that his team could have stolen the three points from Bootham Crescent in the 0-0 draw against York City in midweek and heaped much of the blame on the referee.

He claims that Paul Danson shouldn't have awarded a penalty against David Flitcroft - which was saved by Matthew Gilks - and felt that the reaction from York players and bench got Clive Platt sent off.

Hollins said: ''I spoke to the referee and it wasn't a penalty.

Flitcroft got the ball.

''As for Platt, he was late, but the guy got up, winked at the line and carried on playing.

''For me, it was the reaction of all the players and the crowd that got Clive sent off.

''There is no appeal against it, so there's nothing we can do about that, so that's another player we've lost for three games.

''If you look at the overall game, towards the end, we had two possible penalty claims.

''Connor as he twisted in the box and brought down and Townson in the last few seconds of the game was pulled back inside the area, but the referee didn't see it.

''We have to go with that decision by the ref, he said he didn't think it was a penalty and that's that.

''Our back four were solid and I don't think Matthew Gilks will ever have a better game.

''I just thought he did everything that was asked of the young man, and I thought he was magnificent.

''We had a couple of good chances to nick the game.

''Paul Ware's cross nearly found the back of the net, but I was disappointed with the first 45.

''The three points were there for the taking.

''But we simply didn't do enough to get them.''

SWANSEA City assistant manager Peter Nicholas has urged his players to leave their troubles behind and concentrate on adding to those of their former manager at Rochdale tomorrow.

Swansea make the long trip to Lancashire after a week dominated by more off-field uncertainty at Vetch Field which finally ended lat last night.

Now Nicholas wants his team to ensure they grab the headlines this weekend by making it one win in seven for John Hollins as Rochdale manager. ''The players would like to get one over on their old boss. We all would because we need a result, '' he said.

''The fact that John Hollins is now in charge at Rochdale does not bother me or Colin Addison, and the players know they are working for a new management team now and they've got to get on with it.

''But the reacquaintance with John does add a little extra spice to tomorrow's game.

''What we must do is forget everything that's going on behind the scenes here - and we will.

''We held a meeting with the whole squad yesterday to let them know what was going on. Now we must put it out of our minds.'' Nicholas's side struggled to forget the off-field problems at Bristol Rovers.

Having heard 90 minutes prior to kick-off that the Mel Griffin takeover deal had collapsed, beleaguered Swansea were beaten 4-1.

''We were disappointed with the news before the Bristol game, '' admitted the former Barry manager. ''But I didn't think we played that badly and certainly didn't deserve to lose by that scoreline.

''The fact is that Nathan Ellington is the best player in the division and he showed that with a fine hat-trick.'' Swansea look set to keep faith with the same 16 players who lost at Rovers and at home to Macclesfield.

Striker Mamady Sidibe is back at the Vetch and will travel with the squad, though his chances of playing seem slim because of the ankle injury sustained on Boxing Day.

Rochdale are without first-choice goalkeeper Neil Edwards and defender Graeme Atkinson because of injury.

FORMER Swansea City boss John Hollins has launched a barbed attack on his old club on the eve of their first reunion - by suggesting Rochdale are better geared for success.

Hollins took over at Spotland in mid-December - three months after he was shown the door at Vetch Field.

And despite securing only one win in his first six games, the man who led Swansea to the 2000 Third Division title believes the right foundations are in place in Lancashire.

''Swansea and Rochdale are very similar really, '' he said, ''but let's just say the difference here is you have a board of directors who you can see every day.

''Different people do different things, but this is club is well run.

''Rochdale have not been out of this league for 30 years, but they have kept things stable and kept to budgets and that stands them in good stead. I had to keep to a budget at Swansea too, it's just that I didn't set it.'' Hollins was a disappointed man when former Vetch chairman Mike Lewis sent him packing last autumn, yet he rejects suggestions of a revenge mission tomorrow.

''Once September 12 happened and I was no longer employed by Swansea, that was me finished with the club, '' he added.

''I never look back and I am not concerned with Swansea anymore - I haven't really followed what's been happening off the field down there.

''Tomorrow's game is no different to any other for me. I do not have to prove a point to anybody - why should I?

''All I want is for Rochdale to get three points. If we get that I'll be happy.'' Hollins's only success to date as Rochdale boss came at Macclesfield two weeks ago.

His first game in charge ended in the club's first home defeat of the season, his second in their heaviest reverse.

''It makes things a little different coming in half-way through the season because it takes time to familiarise yourself with the players.

''Then having played my first couple of games, we had three called off in a row which didn't help because you can't assess people only in training.

''The squad is only 21 here, but there are some talented players just as there were at Swansea.

''There is some great potential here, now we need a run to start building the confidence. Hopefully that will begin tomorrow.''

THE Mel Nurse consortium were unveiled as the new owners of Swansea City today after finally ousting Tony Petty.

The two parties, arch rivals in court just a couple of months ago, signed the takeover deal, significantly less than the £50,000 offered last autumn, in a dramatic meeting late last night.

Nurse is unlikely to be the new chairman, although he will sit on the board.

He will almost certainly be joined by US-based millionaire Brian Katzen and local businessman and lifelong Swans fan Dave Morgan who will be the sole director for the next few days.

There could also be seats for Gareth Keen, another local businessman, two further non-Britons and a member of the Supporters' Trust, likely to be chairman Leigh Dineen.

A syndicate of three more Welsh businessmen who put money into the consortium seem unlikely to play a role in the boardroom.

There is a return to the club for Martin Burgess, sacked as financial director by Petty, possibly as chief executive.

The deal was signed and sealed at 10.55pm last night at the Copthorne Hotel, Cardiff, where the two parties had met at Petty's request, and this time there was no 11thhour collapse.

The completion followed hours of talks in the hotel's conference room involving Nurse, Petty, Morgan and Matthew Gunther-Bushell, Petty's public relations man who was present as a witness.

There were regular telephone calls to former Vetch chief executive John Shuttleworth, who had to resign his post so the deal could be finalised.

This was how the news that everyone had been waiting for was broken last night.

A statement from Nurse's consortium said:

''At 10.55pm on January 24, 2002, the majority shareholding in Swansea City Football Club Ltd and its trading subsidiary Swansea City AFC Ltd was acquired from Tony Petty by a local consortium led by ex-Swansea player and long-time supporter of the club, Mel Nurse.

''Mr Petty and John Shuttleworth have resigned as officers of the companies and have no legal, financial or other interest in the club.'' Petty gone, Nurse in is the eventuality most Swans fans have been hoping for in recent months.

But despite obvious relief, Swansea's new owners are remaining cautious.

Martin Burgess said:

''We have not seen the books yet so we do not know the exact financial situation, but it was a case of we buy the club or Petty would take it into liquidation. We had to take a risk.

''We are adequately funded, but I would not say we were well funded and we are still looking for more people to invest in the club.'' Nurse added: ''We would not have got involved if we did not think we could save the club.''

Good morning. I'm Steve Penny, one of the legal advisers to the Mel Nurse consortium. With me are Mel Nurse, David Morgan, Leigh Dineen and Martin Burgess.

I wish to make a statement on behalf of the consortium and then one from Mel. I have some very good news to announce to the supporters of Swansea City Football Club and to the people of Swansea. At 11pm last night the shareholding of Mr Tony Petty in Swansea City football club was acquired unconditonally from him on behalf of the consortium.

Both he and Mr John Shuttleworth jabe resigned as officers of the company. As a result neither of these gentlemen any longer have any connection with the club. I can confirm that the consortium includes ex-Swansea and Wales international player and long time supporter of the club in the fullest sense Mr Mel Nurse.

Other members of the consortium are all local people or people with roots or connections with Swansea all of whom have made a financial contribution towards the acquisition of Mr Petty's shares. The final stages of the consortium's negotiations with the previous owner have taken place under difficult circumstances. For obvious reasons it has not been possible to disclose the identities of the members of the consortium. In particular it could have prejudiced the negotiations with Mr Petty.

Members of the conosrtium include Mel Nurse, Brian Katzen, Gareth Keen, David Morgan, The Swansea City Supporters Trust and other donors who presently wish to remain anonymous but who care for the future of Swansea and it's football club. Other potential investors are already talking to the consortium and the consortium is keen to hear from others.

The Swansea Supporters Trust has taken an active role in the consortiums activities and our deep thanks go to the trust representatives and of course to the loyal Swansea fans who have contributed their time effort and money to that cause. The trust will continue to have an active role in the future of the club.

The consortium would like to put on record that the City Council has been extremely supportive over the past weeks. Most recently we have been discussing the position of the club's lease at the Vetch as this is one of the club's lifelines. We look forward to continuing those discussions in a constructive way.

Not all of the news however is good. This is only the first day of the club's new life. The financial affairs of the club are still difficult and there is a great deal to be done. This will start with an immediate review of the club's financial affairs. During the recent reign of Mr Petty liquidation of the club was a very real probability. Until that is undertaken it will not be possible to be more specific as to what measure will need to be put in place. In the modern world the club will have to be run prudently. The supporters, players, staff and people of Swansea can however be assured that everything possible will be done to ensure the future well being of league football in Swansea which must be good for the city.

I will now read a statement on behalf of Mr Mel Nurse

I'd like to thank all of the people who have helped and who I hope will continue to help us.

Nick Cusack, Roger Freestone and all the players, management and staff for their loyalty.

Mel Griffin and his colleagues who made way earlier this week for our bid to go forward.

The Evening Post and other media for their support including internet people such as Phil Sumbler and Gary Martin.

The efforts behind the scenes of the PFA and the football league are much appreciated.

There are many others but I'd like to place on record my particlar thanks to the people who really matter at the end of the day namely the supporters without whom what now has a chance of happening may never have done so. They can rest assured that Swansea City Football Club will from now on be a club with proper supporter representation, hopefully a new stadium with a loyal and locally based board.

With your help and support this club can go places. Please continue to support the club and not least the players and the manager and coach Colin Addison and Peter Nicholas all of whom have acquitted themselves admirably under difficult circumstances. Let's get behind them home and away let's see if we can fill the Vetch again.

Thank you.

Controversial Swansea City chairman Tony Petty has finally offloaded the Swans to a new owner after a previous sale dramatically collapsed.

A local consortium headed by former Swansea director Mel Nurse bought the club for an undisclosed sum late Thursday night.

The pair met with solicitors in Cardiff and confirmed in a statement at 2255 GMT that they had signed a deal.

More details will be revealed in a press conference at the Vetch Field on Friday.

The news will come as a welcome relief for worried Swansea fans who have been been campaigning to oust Petty.

The Australian-based businessman controversially attempted to sack players and tried to reduce wages to cut costs, both moves earning the wrath of the Professional Footballers' Association.

The PFA is also owed money for loans paid to cover wages over Christmas.

Swansea skipper Nick Cusack is the chairman of the PFA and has been instrumental in protecting his team-mates' rights.

A consortium led by property developer Mel Griffin and Jim Moore was poised to buy the club on Tuesday, but negotiations broke down on Tuesday.

Swansea's players were given the news of the failed takeover as they travelled to play Bristol Rovers, later losing 4-1.

Petty alleged that the the Griffin consortium had got cold feet after Swansea County Council announced redeveloping the Vetch was not an option.

The club is expected to move to the new Morfa Stadium development in the future, where they will share with the city's professional rugby club.

Nurse, who bought the club's outstanding debt from former owners Ninth Floor plc in November, has now acquired the majority of Swans shares from Petty - shares he acquired for just £1 in October 2001.

Details of the deal have not yet been revealed, but Nurse said the figures was "substantial".

"Survival is first and utmost, and we'll go from there," he said, adding that he would do whatever he could for the club but would not become the chairman.

A new board of directors will decide on a replacement chairman.

"We have some money ready for advancement and we'll take that out of it - but it's going to be an uphill task and we will need financial assistance.

"There were quite a few documents which were missing from the Vetch and so on, but hopefully we have overcome that now.

"We've got one hell of a ladder to climb - I am hoping the public will support us."

Nurse resigned as a Swansea director in November and moved swiftly to buy up the club's £801,000 debts in a bid to gain the upper hand.

He subsequently petitioned at the High Court for an administrator to oversee the club's future, although Petty was granted extra time to pay the club's debts.

Petty took ownership of the club in October after a similarly turbulent history in Australia, where he caused anger at the Brisbane Lions and Soccer Australia, the national footballing body.

Under-fire Swansea chairman Tony Petty insists the club are struggling to survive and are "very close now to the end of the road".

City had to take out a loan from the Professional Footballers' Association to pay players' wages before Christmas and Petty envisages an equally difficult time in finding the funds this month.

The club cannot sign any new players after a transfer embargo was imposed by the Football League last month, and there was further bad news on Tuesday when a takeover bid led by Mel Griffin and Jim Moore fell through.

Petty said: "Things are very, very black. We are very close now to the end of the road. There comes a point in any business where you have to say that, legally speaking, we're insolvent.

"Obviously the local consortium (led by former player Mel Nurse) are still interested and are talking and one thing we all agree on is that we want this club to survive. We'll try and do our best to ensure that happens."

TONY PETTY was last night hopeful of completing a deal to sell Swansea City to Mel Nurse's consortium - admitting it is now the only option to stop the ailing Third Division club going out of business. Speculation at the Vetch suggested the Swans chairman had agreed to relinquish control of the club to Nurse after property developer Melvin Griffin dramatically called off his planned takeover.

But Petty, admitting the club was "very close" to folding unless a buyer is found within the next few weeks, insisted he was still in discussion with Nurse's consortium of local Swans supporters and businessmen.

"Things are very, very black - we're very close to the end of the road," said Petty last night. "How long has the club got left? We can soldier on for a little bit longer, but there comes a point where you have to say enough is enough.

" Despite winning a courtroom battle over Nurse for control at the Vetch in November, Petty concedes he is now pinning all hopes on selling the cash-strapped club to the former Swansea player.

Asked whether Nurse's consortium is the only option to stop Swansea sliding towards liquidation - and almost certainly losing their Football League status - Petty said, "That's the only logical conclusion I can reach at this point. "If he and his group of people say they've got the money needed to run this football club, I'm not going to stand in their way."

The businessman - who pledged not to return to Australia until he finds a solution to the Swans' crisis - took a swipe at Griffin for pulling out of his takeover a couple of hours before Swansea's 4-1 defeat at Bristol Rovers on Tuesday evening. "As far as I'm concerned, that deal was done on Friday evening.

Since then, I've tried to contact Mel Griffin and Jim Moore (representative) so many times I've lost count. I have still not heard from them. "The damage done by the actions of Mel Griffin and Jim Moore is nothing more than catastrophic." The reason for Griffin's sudden withdrawal was still unclear last night, both parties blaming the other for the collapse. Griffin said his group had fulfilled their responsibilities but were forced to pull out through a legal technicality.

Petty countered by suggesting the takeover collapsed because of a breakdown in discussions between Griffin and Nurse's consortium that would have been handed control of the club in the long-term. "The consortium, as of noon on Tuesday, fulfilled their responsibilities based on an agreement with the local businessmen and once again committed to support the club financially, provided monies were also forthcoming from the local group," said Griffin's consortium.

"In conjunction with various other events surrounding Swansea Football Club as disclosed by due diligence carried out by the consortium, it has left the consortium with no option but to withdraw their offer."

But Petty said, "It seems clear to me that whatever was discussed at this meeting (between Griffin and the local investors) resulted in the breakdown of the deal and not, as they have claimed, any direct issue over due diligence." Petty said he was committed to selling the club - possibly "within the next 24 hours" - and pleaded with Swans supporters to be patient. "Despite all the animosity, right or wrong, I want to leave the club making sure it stays afloat and is success-fully and responsibly handed on."

SWANSEA CITY were thrown into yet more turmoil last night after the takeover of the cash-strapped Third Division club dramatically collapsed.

London-based property developer Melvin Griffin was expected to complete a deal to end controversial Swans chairman Tony Petty's 17-week reign at the Vetch - much to the delight of Swansea's long-suffering supporters.

But their hopes of a bright new future for the Third Division club-were blown to pieces last night after Petty received a phone call informing him the deal was off.

Neither the property developer nor his spokesman were available for comment, but Petty said he believed Griffin's decision to pull out was based on Swansea Council's refusal to sell him the Vetch Field for development.

Petty, who insisted he had not been contacted directly by the consortium, said, "I can only assume the reason for this is as a result of the council's announcement that the redevelopment of the Vetch would not be an option for them were they to purchase the club.

"The club's losses have been dramatically reduced since I took over the ownership of Swansea City, therefore, I cannot see the club's financial status, in itself, being any reason for the consortium's withdrawal.

"I am now consulting lawyers over the position that remains as a result of the heads of agreement signed between Mel Griffin's consortium and myself, to consider whether any legal action will be taken."

Swansea manager Colin Addison and his players were told the news half an hour before their 4-1 defeat at Bristol Rovers last night.

DEJECTED Swansea City slumped to their second defeat in three days at a freezing-cold Memorial Stadium last night - a game which paled into insignificance after news that the club's takeover was in pieces.

Just as Bristol Rovers proudly unveiled their brand new £150,000 floodlights, the lights appeared to go out on Swansea's hopes of starting afresh and finally waving goodbye to controversial chairman Tony Petty.

Whether the deal can be resurrected remains open to question but, according to Petty, Melvin Griffin and his consortium have conceded defeat in their battle to buy the Vetch off Swansea Council.

The property developer's decision to call his takeover off has plunged the crisis-torn club's future in doubt once again - and a large number of questions now need to be answered.

One of them is certain to be whether former Swans director Mel Nurse and his consortium can raise enough cash to deliver an alternative rescue package.

And the players once more face an anxious few days to see whether their wages will be paid, the Professional Footballers Association having expressed a reluctance to foot the bill again.

Rovers were much the stronger of the two teams and Swansea - who barely had a shot on target - struggled to contain pacey striker Nathan Ellington who scored a superb hat-trick.

The 20-year-old hotshot took his tally for the season to 18, Sergio Ommel also on target for the home side and Steve Watkin netting a consolation for the Swans.

Swansea had Michael Howard to thank when his goal-line clearance prevented Swansea falling behind after 21 minutes. The defender blocked Andy Thomson's 18-yard free-kick and John Williams came within a few inches of putting the Swans ahead when Steve Brodie clipped a ball through and the big targetman saw his 20-yard lob loop over the crossbar.

But the Swans were sunk by a double whammy just before the interval, Ellington inevitably finding the back of the net.

The young forward nonchantly stroked the ball past Roger Freestone from the penalty spot after he was brought tumbling to the ground under Kris O'Leary's clumsy challenge.

Less than two minutes later, Rovers doubled their lead when Ellington headed on Thomson's free-kick and Dutchman Ommel provided a cool finish. Ellington scored his second and Rovers's third eight minutes into the second half with a spectacular 25-yard blaster which Freestone had no chance of stopping.

Swansea pulled a goal back when Watkin converted Jonathan Coates's cross.

Ellington went in search of his hat-trick in the 81st minute, twisting and turning before blasting his shot wide of Swansea's left-hand post.

He made no mistake five minutes later when Vitalijs Astafjevs supplied a sweet right-sided cross and Ellington drove past a helpless Freestone.

"The supporters deserve our thanks," said manager Colin Addison afterwards.

"They knew what had gone on before the game but they didn't stop cheering. It was a big shock to everyone when we heard the takeover had collapsed, but nothing surprises me in football anymore. "

BRITISH football might not have seen the last of Tony Petty.

"One door shuts but another opens. I'm heavily involved in football in Australia and I'll continue to be involved over there," said Petty, chairman of the Queensland Soccer Federation.

"Whether I become involved in another British club remains to be seen. I've not been happy about the lies that have been said about me in Swansea.

"Some people said I had a criminal record. Well, I've emigrated to Australia and you can't do that if you've got a criminal record.

"The level of hate against me in Swansea surprised me. But I've even had abuse in Australia.

"When I was in the airport in Brisbane someone started shouting `Swansea!' Swansea!' He was trying to wind me up."

TONY PETTY'S turbulent - some might say nightmarish - 17-week reign at the helm Swansea City is about to end.

Petty, who has become the most hated chairman in the Swans' 90-year history, will return to his adopted home of Australia to pursue a career in football administration.

And there, on the other side of the world, the Vetch faithful no doubt hope he stays, never to cross the Briton Ferry bridge again.

During his tenure - which was as turbulent as flying through a heavy thunderstorm - Petty was spat at and threatened with physical harm.

Swansea fans leaving the Moss Rose Ground after the FA Cup game at Macclesfield last month threw missiles at his car, severely damaging its bonnet.

Yet the Londoner says if he could turn the clock back he would still take over the Third Division club - although he would change some things a second time.

"In hindsight, there are a few things I should have done differently," said Petty at the start of an interview that he claimed would be his final on Swansea City.

"I shouldn't have caused that fiasco with the players and I should have got a line of communication going with the supporters' groups early on.

"If I'd done these things at the start I may have got people on my side."

Petty's actions on October 10 when he said seven players had to find new clubs and eight more had to take a pay cut, was something he could never re-cover from.

He had been in the Vetch hot-seat only a week when he dropped the bombshell and after that he became Public Enemy No 1 in Swansea.

`Petty Out' stickers were plastered on bus stops across the city. The supporters, fearing for their club's future, organised protest marches and emergency meetings.

When Petty was verbally abused for the entire 90 minutes at the home game with Rushden & Diamonds on November 3, Swansea's veteran manager Colin Addison said he had never seen anything like it in all his years in football. And Addison worked for Atletico Madrid's notorious hire-and-fire chairman Jesus Gil!

After the match, Petty was surrounded by stewards and escorted out of the ground in a manner that would have had American president George Bush's security staff watching in admiration.

Petty, who said two months ago that £1.1m in pledges was on its way to the Vetch, believes he became a victim in the Swansea soap opera.

The self-confessed West Ham fan hoped the Brisbane Lions would financially back him at the Vetch. Lions directors Gary Wilkins and Lawrence Oudendyk came, saw - but didn't want to conquer.

"The investment wasn't coming from me, it was coming from the Brisbane Lions," said Petty. "They said they didn't mind investing but I had to cut overheads first.

"I took the job on. That's the choice I made. They didn't invest because of all the adverse publicity. The bad press put them off.

"I admit I messed up with the play-ers. I could have walked away with the

Lions but I tried to soldier on and find other investors on my own. I've always had faith in my own ability.

"I could blame the Brisbane Lions. They flew 12,000 miles and they were more than interested in Swansea City.

"It was a learning experience for them and a painful experience for me.

"I don't feel let down by them. At the end of the day, they didn't guarantee to give me any money. They just came over and had a look.

"With all the bad publicity at the club, I can't blame them for not invest-ing."

Petty insists it could have been a different story had former director Mel Nurse, who became the Swans' biggest creditor after acquiring a £800,000 debt from previous owner Ninth Floor plc, not tried to force the club into administration.

"I was just starting to turn the finances around when the Mel Nurse thing blew up. We were starting to build up a cash flow but the court case cost us £160,000.

"If the court case hadn't happened the players would have been paid at Christmas and we still would have had £90,000 in the bank.

"It wouldn't have meant we were out of the woods but we wouldn't have had all the problems we had over Christ-mas."

Even if Nurse had not forced Petty into Swansea County Court, just how much longer he could have held on at the Vetch is open to debate.

After all, a club can receive only so many £100,000 windfalls from Sky while Petty had cashed-in his most valuable playing asset, Stuart Roberts, who was sold to Wycombe Wanderers for the ridiculously low sum of £102,000.

"I don't think I've let myself down," he added. "I've kept the club going for four months and that's been a miracle. Really, the club shouldn't be trading."

The North Bank might call for the day Petty finally and absolutely relinquishes control at the Vetch to become an annual Public Holiday.

They resented his arrogance and the image of Petty petulantly sticking his tongue out at the cameras as he left during his court hearing with Nurse will never be forgotten.

Neither will the rest of his 17-week reign.

THE prospective new owners of Swansea City last night closed the door on Mike Lewis's possible return to the Vetch Field.

Former Swans chairman and managing director Lewis had hoped to return to the Vetch in a new capacity once outgoing chairman Tony Petty relinquished control of the club to the consortium led by property developer Melvin Griffin.

But Griffin last night told The Western Mail he wants a "fresh start" at the Vetch and would not be inviting Lewis to join the management team that will run the club on a daily basis.

"Bringing Mike Lewis on board has never been on our agenda," said Griffin. "We want a clean slate at Swansea City and he will not be part of our group.

"Tony Petty will never come back and there will be no Mike Lewis at the club, either. They've had their day.

"All the old regime will be gone. We want a totally fresh start. Other people have had their chance with Swansea City Football Club and I'm sure they've tried hard.

"But we want this to be a new chapter in the club's history and I want my own people on board. There will be a different approach to things. Let's face it, the old way didn't work, did it?

"The people who will soon be involved at Swansea have different backgrounds. They have expertise in things like property and marketing,"

The departure of Lewis, who arrived at the Vetch in 1997 when Silver Shield (later Ninth Floor plc) acquired the club, will prove popular with Swansea's supporters who still vilify the 60-year-old for selling the club to Petty last October.

Petty yesterday made an unexpected final visit to the Vetch and is expected to relinquish control of the cash-strapped Third Division club today.

"I've nothing against Mike Lewis. I've only met the man once and I don't know his track record," said Griffin.

"I just think it's time there was a new management team at the club.

"We're looking forward to the challenge of trying to turn this club around but we need the fans behind us."

The news was a huge blow to Lewis who last week said he would like to continue working at the Vetch when the new owners took over.

And Lewis said if he is discarded by the new consortium he would pursue his compensation claim for loss of office at the club since he resigned his £80,000-a-year post when Petty bought the club.

"The new owners have their own plans and I understand their reasons for not wanting me on board," said Lewis last night.

"But it's still disappointing, especially if they don't make use of my knowledge of the Morfa project because I know that inside out.

"If there is no continuing role for me then I will have to pursue compensation for loss of office which I don't really want to do.

"If I had an active role at the club then I wouldn't have to press that claim, but you just don't walk away from something and not receive any payment for it.

"If they draw the line on my time at Swansea City then fine, but I will pursue this case."

He added, "I transformed the commercial department. It went from nothing to bringing in just under £1m.

"I sacked John Hollins and brought Colin Addison and Peter Nicholas to the club."

PHIL DILLON looks back at Tony Petty's reign and three and a half turbulent months in Swansea City's history

WHEN Tony Petty arrived at Swansea City he insisted he was not a great white knight riding in to solve the club's problems at a stroke.

But what happened next nobody could have imagined. Four months later he left the club almost at death's door after a catalogue of catastrophic moves.

He is reviled by fans, has besmirched Swansea City's name across the world, according to former chairman Steve Hamer, and completed a disappearing act to Australia every time the heat has risen at Vetch Field.

On the day he sacked seven players, fellow journalists who had seen the fall of the club some 15 years earlier, said that it was on a par to those sad days.

But four months later, after nonpayment of players' wages at Christmas, transfer embargoes, non-payment of players' pensions contributions, a demand from QPR for not coughing up £10,000 for their share of FA Cup gate receipts and other cash probes, even they have to admit they have never seen anything like it.

Petty took control from Mike Lewis in October. He was heralded in with a fanfare of trumpets as the man to save the club.

Lewis had sold the club a day before the three-month deadline handed to him by former owners Ninth Floor plc.

He had been paying, as he called it, due diligence to Tony Petty, but as we were to see, those checks proved to be worthless over the coming months.

At Petty's side when he arrived at the Vetch were Brisbane Lions chairman Gary Wilkins and chief executive Lawrence Oudendyk.

There was talk of financial help from the Aussie club but Petty still warned there would be no quick fix.

It was the last time Wilkins and Oudendyk were seen in Swansea.

Maybe they were just taken in by Petty and were victims of circumstance.

Will we ever know? I doubt it.

''Over-exuberance by the previous owners has left the club in a long-term financial mess, '' Petty said at the time.

''It's in dire need of help. We have not got a million pounds to write a cheque out and be the great white knight of Swansea City, but we are prepared to roll our sleeves up and do whatever it takes to get the club out of its current situation.'' Never a truer word spoken in jest. Exactly a week later everyone found out what Petty meant by that statement.

October 10 will go down in club history as 'the day of the long knives' when Petty sacked seven players and offered drastically reduced contracts to eight more.

The Vetch that day was like a morgue. No-one knew whether or not they were still in a job. Nobody knew if this action could be taken.

Skipper Nick Cusack acted as go-between before the Professional Footballers' Association ruled Petty's actions illegal.

But that did not change the fact that the chairman had tried to wield the axe on most of the first-team squad.

Petty tried to rebuild bridges he had set fire to. But it was too late.

The fans began their campaign to get him out and the Londoner became the most hated man in Swansea ? alongside his sidekick John Shuttleworth, who had been made chief executive.

Another feeling the wrath of the fans was Lewis. He was seen by the Vetch faithful as one who had brought the club crashing round its ears by passing it on to Petty for £1.

But there was a twist in the tale when Lewis claimed there maybe a loophole in the takeover process although nothing ever came of the moves.

With the chairman back in Australia, Shuttleworth took over the day-to-day running of the club.

Stuart Roberts was sold to Wycombe for £100,000 although he did not want to go, and there were rumours that more senior players would follow him out of the Vetch door.

But they were not going anywhere. Through it all they had stuck together and that was not going to change now.

The fans, too, were as one. They marched before games against Brighton and Leyton Orient to protest against Petty's actions.

But the subject of their hate was still out of the country. He flew back into a storm of protest culminating in ugly scenes at the Rushden & Diamonds back on November 3.

For 90 minutes, from the time he took his seat in the directors' box alongside Shuttleworth, until the end of the game, chants of 'Petty Out' rang round the ground.

Scenes got uglier after the match when supporters turned on Lewis, who had inexplicably gone to the Harry Griffiths Bar.

Lewis was attacked and punched as he was escorted from the bar by police and stewards.

The penny may have dropped at last when Petty said he may have acted hastily when 'sacking' the players.

But the damage had been done. It was clear that the fans were never going to accept him.

Things went quiet but only for a couple of days before club director Mel Nurse lit the blue touchpaper again.

The ex-Swansea star quit his role on October 31 and the rumours were rife that he was the man to save the club.

Those rumours were right and Nurse set the ball rolling on his Swans' survival bid.

He had already bought the club's £801,000 debt off Ninth Floor and five days later he called in that debt.

The case went to court. But the drama was not over. After seven hours of deliberation, an adjournment was made to allow Nurse and his backers to prepare a business plan.

Nurse would ultimately fail in his bid but an SOS was answered by another Mel, as it would turn out.

Things had turned sour for the Nurse group at this stage and it seemed Petty was now going to ride roughshod over everyone at the Vetch.

He blamed Nurse for bringing the case against the club, claiming it only caused damage financially.

Petty revealed pledges of financial support, which ultimately won him the club.

That help was to the tune of £1 miilion, said Petty, with pledges from his wife, father and an aunty in Ireland called Mrs Duck.

The pledges were never forthcoming and Swansea City spiralled out of control.

The south Londoner predicted a bright future for the club after winning control of the club and the first thing he did was offer fans a stake in that future by trying to hand out free shares.

But the fans weren't buying it.

They had their hands burnt too many times already.

Petty was finding it even harder to balance the books and came up with the idea to asset strip by trying to sell off more of the club's top players.

Mamady Sidibe almost went to Barnsley before, thankfully for him and the club, he picked up an injury. But it didn't end there. Matthew Bound was the next to go, moving to Oxford on an initial loan period just before Christmas.

And then came the real bombshell. On Christmas Eve, a week after they had been assured the money was there, and with Petty back Down Under enjoying the winter sun, the players were told they were not to be paid.

Skipper Nick Cusack branded the chairman a disgrace.

''The sooner Tony Petty relinquishes control of the club the netter for players, supporters and the club itself, '' he said at the time.

The players gave the perfect response to Petty's actions. They stuck two fingers up at him from afar with a magnificent 3-0 win at Exeter on Boxing Day.

Petty had the audacity to apply for a loan from the PFA so the players could be paid but it would not grant the money immediately.

Players eventually received their money but once more the damage had been done.

Then came the news everyone had wanted to hear. Petty was quitting the club! He promised to be gone by the end of January but Cusack warned that it was too soon to start celebrating.

The Football League slapped a transfer embargo on the club to compound the misery.

But all the while the players were continuing to improve on the pitch.

Detectives were investigating the Striker competition as things went from bad to worse at the Vetch but still Petty was hanging on. QPR had not been paid £10,000 for their share of gate receipts from the FA Cup second round tie at the Vetch and there were threats to ban the club from next year's competition.

Nothing else could go wrong, surely?

But there were fears of liquidation circulating the city. Petty was called to meet the Football League and answer 15 points about the club. True to form, he never turned up, no surprise there then!

And then just when it seemed he would go quietly, back he came like a bad penny to try and cling on to 30 percent of his shares at the club.

Mel Griffin told him he would not get his wish and he handed over the club.

So the Petty reign is over, John Shuttleworth is nowhere to be seen, although he might have been spotted at Oxford United masquerading as a steward and it's the dawn of a new era.

What lies ahead for Swansea City we can only surmise. But one thing that can be said is, surely things can only get better.

Tony Petty, no doubt, will fly back to Australia to pursue his next project of being chairman of Soccer Australia. A few Swansea fans might get on the phone to those in charge of soccer Down Under to warn them about Petty, who has returned to Queensland, the home of the Castlemaine brewery.

On the other hand, I doubt if they care where he ends up. After 107 days of hell they couldn't give a XXXX.

NICK CUSACK hopes Swansea City's prospective new owners will make funds immediately available for team strengthening.

Swansea captain Cusack, the chairman of the Professional Footballers' Association, played the proverbial "blinder" during the controversial three-and-a-half month reign of chairman Tony Petty.

Cusack has already secured his place in Swans' history by representing bemused players with rare intelligence and great dignity.

But with Petty preparing to leave the Vetch for good this week by handing over control of the club to the Melvin Griffin-led consortium, Cusack is planning to persuade the new owners that investment in the squad is essential.

"I'll be looking to sit down with them to explore their plans for the future," said Cusack, referring to the club's new owners.

"But I'm pretty certain they wouldn't have come in if they were going to treat the players in the way that Tony Petty did.

"A new consortium might look to bring in a few new players. We are a bit light in a number of areas, particularly up front.

"Obviously, that's something for Colin (Addison) and Peter (Nicholas) to look at and, hopefully, the new owners will make money available to bolster the squad.

"But we've got some good players and a great team spirit here and, with a bit of luck, I'm sure we'll start picking up some points."

Cusack, pressed into an emergency forward role during the second half of Saturday's 1-0 home defeat to Macclesfield with Mamady Sidibe injured and John Williams out-of-sorts, revealed the Griffin consortium's first task would be to settle money still owed to players.

He said players were still owed bonus payments relating to the FA Cup victory over Queens Park Rangers in November, last month's signing-on fees and, even in one case, a goal bonus.

"When the PFA came in (last month) to pay our wages they only agreed to pay the players' basic pay," said Cusack.

"There are elements within contracts that have been put on hold. Players' wages were also late in some instances and they were charged for things - like direct debits - at the bank.

"We're not talking about a great deal of money, but it's important for young lads who can't get overdrafts.

"The new consortium must take over those contracts and honour them. I'll be looking to ensure that is the case.

"As long as we, as professional footballers, are paid what we're due then we just get on with the football side. We don't want to get involved with saying how the club should be run.

"We just want to concentrate on our jobs - which is training, working hard, showing a good attitude and getting some good results."

Cusack said the Swansea players had tried to put aside thoughts of Petty's imminent departure, despite reports that a deal to transfer ownership of the club had been agreed.

"There was obviously relief in the dressing room, but we had a match to prepare for and be professional about," said Cusack.

"We're obviously disappointed with the result, but it's nice to know we're going to be paid at the end of this month and that our contracts are assured.

"In the long-term, that's something which is going to be to the benefit of the club.

"Hopefully, it will provide some stability and we must play our part by ensuring that we get results on the field. We've tried to be professional and we're fortunate that we've had great leader-ship from Colin and Peter."

Swansea City 0 Macclesfield Town 1 PERHAPS it was symbolic that Swansea City lost a contest that will surely be remembered as the one marking the end of the Tony Petty era.

Little more than 100 days after taking control of Swansea for £1 Petty was on the verge of closing one of the bleakest chapters in the club's history.

As Chris Byrne's 51st-minute winner ensured that Swansea would make it four games without victory, Petty was in London tying up the loose ends that will pass control of the club to Melvin Griffin's consortium.

Although some 200 miles away, it was the nearest Petty had been to a Swansea match since Macclesfield inflicted FA Cup embarrassment on Colin Addison's side six weeks ago.

On that occasion Petty's Mercedes was damaged in the Macclesfield car park and the reviled chairman was soon heading back to Australia for Christmas.

Swansea supporters, however, will feel that only now has the darkness been lifted. Even though there are still plenty of questions to answer - and Griffin and his associates plan to confront some of them this week - Swansea's future could only be secured without Petty.

The businessman's fate at Swansea was sealed from the morning of October 10 when he sacked seven players and asked eight others to take huge pay cuts - a decision contrary to football and employment law.

There was no way back for Petty after those draconian measures and the only issue remaining was whether he would take Swansea City down with him.

Thankfully, that Domesday scenario appears to have been averted. But people in Swansea - supporters, the business community and the local council - now have to ask themselves whether they really want a Football League club in the city.

These various factions must work with Griffin's consortium to ensure that this second chance for the club both survives and thrives. If they don't, the blame this time will fall on more than one individual.

With so much going on elsewhere it was difficult to focus on the football, which was just as well because until Swansea stirred in the final quarter it was pretty dire stuff.

"We should have definitely got something from the game," said Swansea manager Addison.

"We had enough chances but at the moment we can't buy a goal, especially at The Vetch.

"It`s certainly not our favourite pastime playing at home 1-0 down. Everybody gets frustrated, the crowd get a little edgy and people snatch at things."

Swansea's scoring success at the Vetch is nothing short of chronic. Only 13 home league goals all season and, interestingly, only four during Petty's controversial tenure when the football became an after-thought.

Now Nick Cusack, Swansea's admirable captain and chairman of the Professional Footballers' Association, should stroll any sports personality award in the city for his off-field endeavours over the past few months.

But his assertion that one of the first tasks facing the new owners is to honour a goal bonus to a Swansea player shows that football really has gone mad.

How Swansea yearn for the return of Mamady Sidibe, out since twisting an ankle on Boxing Day. According to Addison, Sidibe - back from recuperation in France

- could be in contention for tomorrow's visit to Bristol Rovers but is more likely to be available for next week's reunion with former manager John Hollins at Rochdale.

Steve Watkin was as industrious as ever but strike partner John Williams made way for Damian Lacey at half-time as his 34-year-old legs began to show the signs of a sapping season.

Cusack was pushed forward, primarily to hold the ball up and feed flick-ons to Watkin and willing midfield runners, and he came closest to an equaliser when he rattled the crossbar eight minutes from time.

"John Williams is not operating as well as he should be and we tried things," said Addison.

"We've used the three subs, changed the system three times and changed tactics I don't know how many times to get a result - but it didn't happen."

At least Swansea had the comfort of another commanding dis-play from centre-back Andrew Mumford, the 20-year-old former

Llanelli defender maturing with each performance.

Swansea shaded the opening quarter with Jonathan Coates and Watkin testing Lee Martin on his goal-line but Macclesfield gradually emerged from their own confidence crisis and Lee Glover's clever runs posed danger.

Glover was almost handed the opener when Neil Sharp's careless cross ball allowed Kyle Light-bourne to stride down the left and provide a centre that the former Nottingham Forest striker was unable to control on the stretch.

When the winner eventually did arrive it came from a familiar source - Swansea failing to heed their painful cup lesson at the Moss Rose ground.

Richard Lambert's cross was directed to the near post and Byrne, twice a scorer in that 4-1 FA Cup triumph, claimed his sixth goal of the season with a looping header that left Addison questioning Freestone's positioning.

"Byrney obviously like scoring against them," said Macclesfield manager David Moss after a first win in six games moved his side to within two points of Swansea.

"We played better in the cup than we did here but it was a different time of game and I asked the players to scrap for a performance.

"You can't be pretty when your scrapping for your lives"

Everyone connected with Swansea City Football Club will pray that their scrap is over - and not just beginning.

ONCE again Wales on Sunday has led the way when it comes to Welsh football coverage - this time over the Tony Petty saga at the Swans.

From the moment Petty announced his swingeing cutbacks - first reported, by the way, in these pages - we nailed our colours firmly to the mast.

"Petty Out," we said then. And "Petty Out" was the stance we stuck to.

Others gave Petty a platform to air his views, or sat on the fence while the controversy raged.

Not us. We explained constructively right from the start why Petty must go. And we kept the campaign going - right up to the point where, less than four months after becoming chairman, he did indeed succumb to public pressure.

From the outset, our impeccable insiders told us what was happening at The Vetch - and we didn't like it one bit.

The very future of the Swans was at stake. Hence our high-profile campaign in which the fans were delighted to get involved.

Among the things we did were big front page headlines declaring, `Rescue Your Club.'

We printed coupons - in effect a petition - urging Petty to go, which flooded back into the office in their hundreds.

We backed Mel Nurse as he tried to wrest control and even gave him the coupons to use in his court battle with Petty.

And while we kept you informed with the real stories at the Vetch, soccer writer PAUL ABBANDONATO wrote a number of hard-hitting columns on the issue.

In one of them, he pointed out that even signing David Beckham and Ryan Giggs wouldn't win over the fans for Petty.

Time and again, fans either rang in or spoke to Paul in person to tell him, "Keep up the good work, you're the only one fighting our case".

Everything culminated last week with our brilliant interviews with Colin Addison and Peter Nicholas, who expressed their sheer despair at what had happened at the club. Plus, of course, our story on the front page saying the deal with Melvyn Griffin WAS on the verge of being sealed.

So, stick with us for not only the best soccer stories, but also the most authoritative and incisive views.

And, as has been proven with Petty going, the views that have the most impact.

THE family of Welsh soccer star John Hartson are teaming up to help pay towards the wages of the cash-strapped Swans players, writes PAUL ABBANDONATO.

The Hartson clan are from Swansea and are big supporters of their hometown club.

A fundraising evening, being organised by John's father Cyril, is being held at Four Seasons Club in the city this Friday, from 7pm.

John's sister Victoria is part of a new pop duo called Red Addiction (see News, P13).

She and her singing partner Louise Morgan - also from Swansea - will be playing a gig at the club.

Welsh hitman Hartson has donated a signed Celtic shirt to be auctioned in aid of the Swans.

Hartson has also arranged for a shirt from his teammate Henrik Larsson to be donated.

There will be a small entry fee and the money raised will be presented in the form of a cheque to Swans skipper Nick Cusack at a future game.

"It will be up to Nick, as captain, to distribute the money fairly and evenly as he sees fit," said Cyril.

Vicki said: "The staff didn't get paid by Swansea City last month - they had to have a loan from the PFA and they only got that last week so the gig is just to raise money for all the staff, all the ladies down there, all the coaches - everyone at Swansea City.

"They're expecting a really big turnout. It should be really good.

"My boyfriend, Leigh De-Vulgt, plays for the Swans. He comes to every gig - he's our roadie!" The organisers are hoping for a bumper turnout. Anyone wanting more details or prepared to donate money can contact Cyril on 07971 747424.

JAN MOLBY, the man who gave shamed David Thomas his big football break, last night told his old player: "You've wasted a super career."

And the former Swansea City manager declared: "David's finished in football. Anywhere he goes, he's going to be branded from here on in.

"What a great shame because he really could have made a name for himself in the game.

"Footballers sometimes get into trouble. We've seen that often enough recently.

"But David has probably gone further down that route than any footballer I have known.

"He was always a bit of a hot-head. But I never thought he would be tarnished with the sort of problems he has been associated with."

Thomas, 26, is in hot water with the authorities for the SECOND time over off-the-field football violence issues.

The ex-Wales Under-21 man pleaded guilty in court to playing a part in the violence after Cardiff's FA Cup win over Leeds.

Thomas had previously been arrested and deported during the violence which marred England's 1-0 victory over Germany at the Euro 2000 tournament in Belgium.

Thomas has been ostracised from the professional game. Even the South Wales Amateur League has kicked him out, barring him from playing for his local side Llanbradach.

Thomas was loathe to talk on the record

last night, although privately he believes he is being made a scapegoat because of his high profile as a former Swansea and Cardiff player.

But Molby has little in the way of sympathy, saying: "You would have thought the Euro 2000 experience would have put off David from getting involved in this sort of thing.

"But obviously it did not. And that has culminated in this situation where I can't possibly see where he goes from here in football."

When Molby joined the Swans as manager for the 1996-97 season, Thomas was a teenage hot-shot who couldn't stop scoring in the reserves.

Molby gave him his chance in the first team - and still Thomas kept on scoring.

He secured a £110,000 move to Graham Taylor's Watford, returned to Wales to play for his home-town club Cardiff, and then drifted into non-league.

Molby recalled: "There was something I liked about David so we decided to give him a go.

"We realised he needed special attention and put an arm around him 24 hours a day, encouraging him, making him feel wanted. Obviously not every manager will do that.

"Football-wise he was fine. Fitness was his problem, so I sent him running, cycling and swimming the whole summer.

"In fairness, he did the work and went from strength to strength, scoring the goals which took us to the promotion play-off final at Wembley.

Thomas wasn't to know it at the time, but that 1-0 defeat by Northampton was to prove to be the beginning of the end.

Unable to agree new terms, he left Molby's guidance at The Vetch and joined Watford.

But the move never properly worked out. Nor, when he returned to Wales, could Thomas establish himself in Cardiff's first team.

"Watford were in a higher division, won the title in his first season there and technically it was a good move for David," says Molby.

"Yet it wasn't to be and what has happened since has been very sad.

"I wouldn't exactly say he had the football world at his feet. But he did score goals and could have had a decent career in the lower leagues.

"With the money on offer these days, that would have set him up nicely.

"Yet, for whatever reason, he has pushed the self-destruct button.

"And David is sensible enough to know that means he can go nowhere in football any more."

The man who fell to earth

DAI THOMAS, an ex-Wales Under-21 international, first played for Swansea City. He then moved to Watford in 1997 for £100,000. In 1998 he joined Cardiff City as a striker for £50,000 until 2000.

But his career at the club ended after he was deported by Belgian police following his arrest during the violence which marred England's 1-0 victory over Germany at the Euro 2000 tournament in Brussels.

Featuring in footage on a BBC Panorama programme in June 2000, Thomas was pictured behind a group of thugs who attacked a north African man before the England game.

At the time, he denied being involved in any trouble and claimed he was "caught up in a sweep by police" and did not believe that he had been arrested.

Since then he has been playing in the South Wales Amateur League for Llanbradach, who are vying for promotion to the League of Wales.

But amateur league secretary David Wilcox said the management committee had met and decided to cancel Thomas's registration with immediate effect.

"The league considered Mr Thomas's acts of hooliganism at the Cardiff-Leeds Cup match and his admission of guilt to this charge," he said.

"We don't think Mr Thomas's actions comply with the standards expected by the league and it is not an example for other footballers in our league. We don't think Mr Thomas should have a future with the amateur league in Llanbradach."

However, Mr Wilcox said Thomas would be missed as Llanbradach had been pinning their hopes for promotion on his playing ability.

Thomas, of Caerphilly, appeared before magistrates along with 10 other men charged with violent, threatening or disorderly behaviour following the FA Cup match at the Ninian Park ground in Cardiff.

Thomas is due to be sentenced at Cardiff Magistrates Court on February 6. He was granted bail on condition that he stays away from the Cardiff City ground on match days. He is also banned from attending matches in England and Wales as a condition of his bail.