NEWPORT County have been forced to switch their Blue Square South fixture with Bromley for a second time this week, thanks to the suits at the FAW headquarters.

County have been forced to avoid a clash with the Wales v Scotland friendly at the Cardiff City Stadium on Saturday, November 14, meaning the Blue Square South game with Bromley will now be the following day with a 3pm kick-off.

My fellow football writer Terry Daley was absolutely spot-on last week in pointing out the utter absurdity of a ruling that means teams within a 50-mile radius of the meaningless Wales clash cannot play matches at any time on that date.

County don’t have a problem with the ruling and have amicably organised with their visitors the rearrangement of the fixture, which was originally set for Friday, November 12 but the visitors can’t participate then due to work commitments, meaning the Sunday kick-off is now etched in stone.

However, while County could possibly benefit in terms of attendance because of the change, it’s high time the FAW looked at this absurd rule and the knock-on effect it has for footballers and supporters right the way down the football pyramid.

While some Exiles supporters may well be pleased of the chance to watch Wales and County, what about those supporters who work on a Sunday? Tough, is the FAW answer.

And further down the pyramid and into the MacWhirter Welsh League and below, the effect will be huge.

These are amateur players who have to work for a living. Denying them the chance to play on a Saturday means that many of them will be unavailable to play in rearranged midweek fixtures, again because of that need to work for a living and pay the bills.

The FAW verdict? Hard cheese, that’s just the way it is.

It seems an incredible way to try and attract interest in an entirely meaningless friendly. What is next, holding a gun to people’s heads and forcing them to watch Wales?

If Wales were in a World Cup qualifying playoff (that is why there is an international date) it would be somewhat easier to understand local clubs being asked to move heaven and earth for John Toshack’s men.

But even then, why is it necessary to stop MacWhirter Welsh League teams from playing?

Answers on a postcard please, because I am stumped.