WELSH broadcasters S4C have moved to quell unrest after completing a u-turn on their commitment to provide live coverage of Newtown’s home clash with Prestatyn Town on Saturday.


The programmers dropped the bombshell at the start of the week and handed critics of the newlook 12-club Welsh Premier format with ammunition, with S4C’s pre-season commitment now broken.


Newtown had hoped this Saturday would see Latham Park host the S4C film crews for a first ever live game.


Already this season Carmarthen Town and Bala Town have hosted live games, with Llanelli, Prestatyn Town, Port Talbot Town, Haverfordwest County and Bangor City scheduled to host matches over September and October.


However Newtown will miss out on the prestige of hosting a live game, with the programmers instead preferring to provide live coverage of the annual Tregaron Festival of Harness Racing.


S4C have apologised to Newtown Football Club and have said Latham Park will host a live game during the season.


Spokesman Owain Pennar said: “The channel’s strategy states S4C is the home of live events of Welsh interest and the broadcasts from these events are at the heart of the S4C’s schedule.


“We have been providing live coverage from the Tregaron Festival of Harness Racing for many years and although it was a difficult editorial decision we felt it was important to continue to broadcast this live annual event in the Welsh calendar.”


“We wish to reassure Newtown and Prestatyn football clubs that we will provide comprehensive coverage of their campaigns in the Principality Welsh Premier this season.”


Newtown secretary Owen Durbridge was disappointed that S4C had made the decision just a week ahead of the big match, having previously committed to covering the game in the summer.


“S4C cover the trotting races every year so it seems strange that they committed to covering our match on the same day and only thought to inform the club this week,” said Durbridge.