After their famous Champions League triumph, the New Saints have quickly got back to work for next week’s mouth-watering clash with Belgian giants Anderlecht.

The Welsh Premier champions are through to the third qualifying round for the first time in the club’s history following Tuesday night’s 4-0 drubbing of Irish side Bohemians at Park Hall.

And there’s little time to dwell on that famous success with the triumphant players being put through their paces as they focus on next Tuesday’s clash which will be staged at Wrexham’s Racecourse (7.45pm).

“It’s taking time to sink in and I’m still pinching myself,” said TNS manager Mike Davies. “We all enjoyed the win against Bohemians, we gave the players the following day off but it’s now back to work.

“The lads have been working so hard in training, and I think that showed with the tempo we played.

“We’ve now got a massive challenge against Anderlecht, but what a game to look forward to.”

The Saints managing director Mike Harris said reaching the third-qualifying round of the Champions League for the first time is worth a “pot of gold” in football as well as financial terms.

“I haven’t quite worked out how much income it will bring, but in terms of football, it’s worth a pot of gold,” he said.

“What we’ve managed to demonstrate on an international stage is that our league is worth every bit of work that every chairman in our league has put in to move forward.”

If the Saints were to beat Anderlecht over two legs, they would go into the final qualifying stage and the winners from that would reach the multi-million pound group stage.

But should they be beaten by the Belgian giants, they will drop into the Europa League qualifying rounds.
Whatever happens they are already guaranteed nearly £450,000 from Uefa from the victory.

Anderlect are expected to bring around 1,000 fans to the game at Wrexham.

The Belgians will be hoping for a successful return to the Racecourse when they overcame Wrexham in 1976 on their way to lifting the Cup Winners Cup.

By JOHN BRIDGEWATER