 There's no scope for development at TNS' current ground, says the club |
Welsh Premier football champions TNS are planning to move to a new �5m 3,000-seater stadium in Shropshire. The village side, currently based in Llansantffraid, near Welshpool, expects to open its new ground across the border in nearby Oswestry in 2008.
In July, TNS were forced to play their Champions League home leg against holders Liverpool at Wrexham because their stadium was not big enough.
The new ground will allow The Saints to stage European matches.
The stadium is earmarked for a 24-acre site known as Oswald Park, less than 10 miles from Llansantffraid. However, the club has not yet received planning permission.
Plans for the move surfaced after TNS bought Oswestry Town football club earlier this year.
 |  The village will continue to be an integral part of the club's future |
The Football Association of Wales (FAW) said The Saints would be able to represent Wales in European competition despite being based in England.
TNS general manager Ian Williams said the new stadium would cost between �3m and �5m. He added that the council was looking to build a leisure centre next to the ground at a cost of �7m.
Mr Williams explained that a further �2.4m would be spent on developing an astro turf training ground for the club, a restaurant and a 10-pin bowling alley at Park Hall in the town.
He said this project had received planning permission.
"Oswestry Borough Council and the club are working in partnership on this project and the authority has backed the plans in principal," said Mr Williams.
"By 2010 Uefa expects all clubs playing in Europe to play their home ties at their own grounds. There's no scope for development at our own ground so we're limited what we can do there.
 TNS played the second leg of their match with Liverpool at Wrexham |
"For the club to move forward then it has to move to Oswestry. There seems no opposition to our plans in Llansantffraid and the village will continue to be an integral part of the club's future."
The club's current Treflan ground in Llansantffraid would be kept for its reserve, youth and ladies' teams, he said. Work on the new ground could start in 2007.
Oswestry Borough Council confirmed it was planning a "healthy living centre" at Oswald Park, but said the plans were at an early stage.
John Deakin, head of competitions at the Football Association of Wales, said despite being based in England TNS could represent Wales.
"Oswestry FC was a founder member of the FAW so TNS would qualify for Europe through competition played in Wales despite being in England." he said.
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