Carmarthenb Town have moved a step nearer to taking their UEFA Cup second round qualification clash with Danish giants FC Copenhagen on Thursday week by confirming they have been in talks with Sam Hammam over using Ninian Park.
Town, who came from 2-0 from the first leg, to defeat Eircom outfit Longford 5-3 on aggregate after a remarkable 5-1 triumph at Newtown's Latham Parl on Thursday, contacted Cardiff owner Sam Hammam on the matter yesterday.
Their ground does not meet the required standards for seating meaning a 200-mile round trip to mid-Wales last week, and with Copenhagen expected to bring a large travelling army with them, Latham Park would not be suitable for the next round.
Town chairman Jeff Thomas had wanted to take the game to the New Stadium in Swansea - just 30 miles from Carmarthen - however, the price to loan the stadium could prove too costly.
After talks with StadCo - the organisation that controls the £27m 20,500 all-seater stadium - Town officials spoke to Cardiff City owner Hammam in a bid to secure a venue to receive 2004 Danish double winners Copenhagen.
And while the Bluebirds have two home fixtures around the date of the Welsh Premier League side's tie, they are the favourites to host Carmarthen on August 11.
Town coach Mark Aizlewood said:
"Our chairman Jeff Thomas spoke with StadCo over the weekend. We were keen on taking our match with Copenhagen to Swansea on a geographical basis - the ground is only 30 miles from us.
"I think Swansea could have accommodated us. The Swans are away to Colchester in League One on the Tuesday and then visit Huddersfield the following Saturday - my understanding is that the New Stadium was available for us.
"But we were quoted £25,000 for use of the stadium - an awful lot of cash for a small club like ours.
"We have the costs of travelling over to Denmark for the second leg on August 25 to consider too - we have a tight budget that needs to be addressed."
Aizlewood continued: "I spoke with Cardiff on Sunday. Hammam told me he would be delighted to give us use of Ninian Park.
"He said that he had given the facility to Haverfordwest last year for a Uefa Cup match with Hafnarfjordur and that he'd be delighted to accommodate us.
"I think it is a wonderful gesture. Sam could be forgiven for looking to make five figures - the fact he isn't is a measure of the man."