THE draw for next season’s UEFA Champions League has offered Oswestry-based The New Saints their best chance ever of progress.


The Principality Welsh Premier champions drew Irish league winners Bohemians at Monday’s draw held at UEFA’s headquarters in Switzerland.


The first leg will be staged at Dublin's Dalymount Park on Tuesday, July 13, with the return game at Park Hall on Tuesday, July 20.


The Saints have never gone beyond the opening round of any European competition during 11 previous attempts.


Clubs as distinguished as Liverpool and Manchester City have provided stiff opposition in the past, while the Saints bombed out at home to FRAM of Iceland last season.


General manager Ian Williams refused to dwell on a succession of falls at the first hurdle.


He said: “It's ideal in terms of logistics and making travel arrangements and we also feel we have a fighting chance of making progress to the next stage.”


However the Dubliners boast a vastly superior European record having beaten Aberdeen, Glasgow Rangers and Kaiserslautern of Germany during their recent campaigns.


Two years ago the Bohs humiliated then Welsh Premier champions Rhyl 9-3 over two legs.


Meanwhile runners-up Llanelli face Lithuanian side FC Tauras in the first qualifying round of the UEFA Europa League competition.


Port Talbot Town’s first foray into Europe sees them fly out to Finland, with a match against fellow unknowns Turin Palloseura of Turku.


However there was disappointment for Welsh Cup winners Bangor City, who drew Finnish side Honka Espoo for a second successive season having lost 3-0 on aggregate last season.