WITH the Abergavenny Thursdays consigned to the history books, and Govilon changing their name to Abergavenny Town for the 2014/15 season, the last 12 months have certainly been a time of great upheaval at Pen-y-Pound. Yet the ongoing saga about exactly what team plays out of the ground once known as the 'Welsh Wembley' and what exactly they choose to call themselves might take yet another startling turn depending on the outcome of an 'extraordinary meeting' which was due to be held at the time of the Chronicle going to press. In a bid to enter the top tier of Welsh football, Monmouth Town have expressed an interest to play their home matches in the heart of Abergavenny. For the first time in their 138 year history, the Kingfishers won the Welsh League last month when they beat Cwmbran Celtic 2-0. Unfortunately for Monmouth, their current ground falls far short of the criteria demanded by the FAW for the club to make the step up to the Welsh Premier League. Monmouth Town's Chairman Lee Robson explained, "Despite winning the Welsh League we could not take up a place in the Welsh Premier League because our ground would not meet the ground criteria – by a long way. In truth it never will because of the village green status and the fact that we share it with Rugby, and cricket and dare I say even Bowls and tennis. "Despite our attempts at trying to find an alternative there is nothing in Monmouth or the immediate surrounding areas that is practical or feasible. If we are to progress as a football club and gain promotion to the Welsh Premier League we need better facilities. "Our current ground share arrangements do not allow us to develop in the way we need to remain competitive at the higher reaches of Welsh football." The club's solution is the possibility of a ground-share of Pen-y-Pound with the newly named Abergavenny Town come the 2014/15 season. Such a move would allow Monmouth to meet the FAW's infrastructure criteria, but also allow them to organise youth tournaments, fundraising events and pre-season friendlies as well as additional sponsorship opportunities. Robson said, "The hard work put in by many players and management over the past 10 years and maybe more cannot be allowed to stagnate and move backwards and although it is a decision that will be hard to make it is, in my view, the right one for the club to make." Robson added, "We intend to retain all existing rights at Monmouth and will remain members of the sports association to ensure that our existing Monmouth facilities are used for the development and enjoyment of football in the town under the banner of Monmouth Town FC. "I hope and trust that our supporters will understand that if football in and for Monmouth is to thrive and get even better we have to have the facilities to allow our boys and girls to play at the highest levels as well as recreationally now and in the future."

See next week's Chronicle for the full outcome of the meeting between Monmouth Town Football Club and the Abergavenny Thursdays Trust Ltd.