Uefa Conference League: Celje v The New Saints
Venue: Stadion Z’dezele, Celje Date: Thursday, 19 December Kick off: 20:00 GMT
Coverage: Listen on BBC Radio Shropshire, BBC Sounda and the BBC Sport website and app.
The New Saints manager Craig Harrison says Welsh football cannot wait another 20 years to be represented in the latter stages of Europe.
This season saw TNS become the first team from the Welsh pyramid to reach the group phase of European competition.
They could yet continue their Uefa Conference League journey with a win against Celje in Slovenia in their final group fixture, albeit they need a number of results elsewhere to go in their favour if they are to reach the play-offs.
Harrison insists his side will not give up on their “very thin chance” but is already eager to make sure the club’s groundbreaking campaign is not the last for Cymru Premier sides.
“Whatever happens tomorrow, we will push on,” Harrison said. “This can’t be once in a 20 year cycle.
“From a realistic point of view, if we’re going to make headway for our country and our coefficient, it needs to happen every two or three years. To get to this stage every third year would be a huge development for Welsh football.”
The New Saints – previously Llansantffraid – reached the group stage in their 26th European campaign. That is despite dominating domestically, aided by the financial support of owner Mike Harris.
On what would be needed for this not to be a one-off experience, Harrison said: “We’d need improvements in all departments, we can’t stand still – but the club never has since I’ve been here.
“We’ve grown the club from top to bottom. Mike wants to build a training ground and possibly a new ground in the future and hopefully more campaigns like this would help fund it.
“It’s nice to get to this stage and give Mike a break from putting his hand in his pocket.”
TNS – who are set to earn around £5m from their campaign – are currently 32nd in the Conference League standings, two points and eight places shy of Turkey’s Basaksehir in the final play-off spot.
The Welsh champions’ relatively healthy goal difference means a win could sneak them into the next round, with several of the sides around them playing higher-ranked sides.
Slovenian champions Celje – managed by former Manchester City, Liverpool and Spain wideman Albert Riera – also need to win to guarantee progress. They go into the game at Stadion Z’dezele in 25th place on four points.
TNS have beaten Astana but been edged out in some challenging fixtures, including against Fiorentina and Panathinaikos.
“We’ve had some tough opponents,” said Harrison, who is in his second spell as TNS manager.
“It would have been nice to have picked up another point along the way to make it easier, but we still have a very thin chance and we want to finish this group stage on a high.
“It took 20 years to get to where we are, if we could double down and qualify again it would be just amazing.
“When I came back to the club I remember speaking to Mike Harris about a five year plan to get to this stage – two half years on and we still have a chance to go one stage further. It would be pretty special and the players will give everything they’ve got to give themselves that opportunity.”
