The League of Wales representative in the Intertoto Cup in June will face a tricky tie against a Bulgarian side.

The draw for the 2002 UEFA Intertoto Cup was made on Tuesday in Nyon, Switzerland, ensuring that Wales' representative will face a tricky two-leg tie against a team from one of the stronger European countries.

Although participation is by invitation of each country's governing body, it is usual that the team finishing third in the League of Wales gets first refusal from the Football Association of Wales.

This season, though, the side that finishes fourth in the League of Wales could be offered an Intertoto place.

With Barry Town, Bangor City and TNS currently filling the top three spots, any one of Rhyl, Caersws, Aberystwyth, Afan Lido and Cwmbran could claim an Intertoto spot.

Deadline

This is because Barry and Bangor are due to meet in the final of the Welsh Cup this season and, although TNS are chasing hard, look likely to finish first and second in the league.

First place qualifies for the Champions League, while the runners up get a UEFA Cup place.

Howver, the knock-out competition carries the extra reward of a UEFA Cup place, meaning the team finishing third in the League of Wales should get the remaining place in that competition.

The Intertoto Cup will kick off on 22 June with the first 40 clubs facing each other in knockout matches on a home-and-away basis.

The pairings for this round and the subsequent two stages have been decided, although the participants will not be named until the 29 May deadline.

The Intertoto Cup is designed to produce three 'winners', each of whom will gain a place in the first round of the 2001/02 UEFA Cup.

Should Wales' representative win through the first round, then an even trickier tie against either Czech or Israeli competition awaits.