Shropshire Star

TNS club owner embroiled in bizarre Twitter badge spat

A football club owner has become embroiled in a bizarre Twitter spat over the rights to use the badge of one of the club's former guises.

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Mike Harris alongside TNS's current badge, left, and Oswestry Town's old badge, right

The New Saints FC owner Mike Harris has hit back on social media at an account, 'Bring Back Oswestry Town FC', which wants to bring back the old club.

Oswestry Town folded in 1988, re-formed until 2003 when it ran into financial difficulty and shareholders ratified a merger with Total Network Solutions, formerly Llansantffraid FC, which later become The New Saints.

The new Twitter account in the online spat

The Twitter account, which is against owner Mr Harris and the merger of the two clubs which happened over 15 years ago, has become embroiled in a Twitter spat after using the former Oswestry badge as its profile picture.

The TNS badge incorporates part of the old Oswestry badge, and a post on the Welsh champions official account stated it would be charging £2.50 per day for its use.

It stated: "Should you not want to be charged for use of the badge please remove by 9am Thursday January 10th 2019."

That prompted a raft of responses on social media, with Mr Harris saying the badge was being used to 'stir up trouble', and 'defame the club'.

Mr Harris invited responders on social media to pop into the club to meet him, before thanking people on Twitter for raising awareness of TNS, and FC Oswestry Town, another club who plays at the Park Hall ground and was formed from the former Oswestry Lions side.

He said: "Call in for a coffee any time will be more than happy to share my vision and show you what we have achieved.

"We would like to thank all contributors comments positive or negative to raising awareness of @tnsfc and @FCOswestryTown #TwoTeamsOneTown."

The Venue at Park Hall, the home of The New Saints