Rumours of SKY bidding for the rights to show both domestic and international Welsh games had appeared to have died down, but a late offer of £10 million was welcomed with open arms by the FAW, who have been growing increasingly concerned about the lack of time the BBC have dedicated to showing Welsh Premier and Welsh Cup games.

SKY faced a late challenge from the BBC - who reportedly iincreased their offer to match SKY's reported £10 million bid - in a last ditch attempt to retain the TV rights for the next four years. A BBC source moaned: "This is a bolt from the blue. We have held this contract for over 20 years and covered Wales when they were not doing well and being watched by 4,000 people at Wrexham. The FAW wanted us then, but now they have had a sniff of success we have been blown out."

An FAW official said: "Councillors have been concerned about the way the BBC have covered the Welsh Premier League and Welsh Cup. We were amazed to discover that the BBC had lodged an almost identical bid to Sky's at the last minute".

Although SKY have won the rights to show all Wales internationals for the next 4 years as well as coverage of the Welsh Premier and Welsh Cup the FAW have reported that they will be selling radio rights seperately.

It is has not yet been stated how this deal will affect the Welsh Premier. Whilst past reports of SKY screening a half hour preview show on Friday evenings and an hour highlights show on Sunday's may prove over-exaggerated, it would seem likely that coverage will not be any worse than what the BBC have dished out since the inception of the league in 1992.

News of SKY winning the rights has so far proved popular with Welsh Premier fans - with most fans on our forum delighted at the prospect of increased coverage and the possibility of a substantial cash boost off SKY to improve Welsh Premier grounds so that they will meet their televising needs.