TNS merging with English club

Due to an inability to build a bigger stadium in and around their home town of Llansantffraid (population 1,000), Welsh Champions League outfit TNS are now merging with English non-league outfit Oswestry Town (based in Shropshire), and building a new stadium in the English Town. Oswestry Town FC is the 3rd longest established football club in the whole of Britain.

The new team will be called TNS, and will continue to play in the Welsh Premier league. The Welsh FA has a rule that states that no clubs that are based outside of Wales can represent them in Europe - but as Oswestry were one of the founder members of the Welsh FA, they have a special dispensation from this rule.

Oswestry itself is one of the chunks of land in the East of Wales that the English nicked off the Welsh a few centuries back anyway. The town is very close to the border, and still has a few street names in the Welsh language.

Strange and interesting development by TNS. Given how pitifully small their own town (and therefore potential support base) is, this is probably their best chance of sustaining their current success into the longer term.....

This was in the works for ages though - it's part of the reason why Oswestry pulled out of the Welsh League about two years ago (though I think they were broke also). No surprise, just completing the formalities.

The FAW actually approved the merger in 2003 - and got the backing from Oswestry Town's shareholders soon after.

They took over the youth and women's teams in summer 2004 - and have just been awaiting UEFA Approval to start playing games in Oswestry