NEWPORT County AFC will not be able to play at Rodney Parade for a ten-day period from the end of August to the start of September due to the Nato summit at the Celtic Manor.
The League Two fixtures will be released at 9am tomorrow but County already know that they won’t be playing at home between Wednesday, August 27, and Sunday, September 7.
The lock-down is due to security measures in the city ahead of the Nato summit, which starts on Thursday, September 4, and is set to be attended by world leaders like US President Barack Obama and French President Francois Hollande.
Thousands of delegates and journalists from all over the world are due to attend the event. And thousands of anti-Nato protesters are expected to converge on the city.
The security measures have already forced Newport Gwent Dragons to move their pre-season friendly against Northampton on Friday, August 19, to Ebbw Vale’s Eugene Cross Park.
“It will affect us and it’s something we’ve been aware of for some time,” said County chief executive Dave Boddy.
“Rodney Parade is locked down from August 27 to September 7 so we know that we will be playing away from home on Saturday, August 30.
“If we are drawn at home in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy in the following week the match will be moved to a later date.
“And the following weekend, when we will be playing at home, we will have our game moved from Saturday, September 6, to Monday, September 8.”
The Football League season will kick-off on Saturday, August 9, and will conclude on Saturday, May 2, with the play-off Finals being held at Wembley Stadium over the weekend of May 23-25 next year.
The 2014/15 Christmas and New Year programme will include matches on Saturday, December 20, and Sunday, December 28, as well as Boxing Day.
Meanwhile the Capital One Cup round one draw takes place at 9.40am today live on Sky Sports News with Justin Edinburgh’s men unseeded in the southern section.
County, who dumped Championship club Brighton & Hove Albion out of the competition last year, could come up against the Seagulls again or the likes of Cardiff City, AFC Bournemouth, Birmingham City, Ipswich Town and Reading.
And there is also the possibility of a reunion with former players Lee Evans of Wolverhampton Wanderers, Conor Washington at Peterborough United or Sam Foley at Yeovil Town.
The full list of County’s possible opponents is: AFC Bournemouth, Birmingham City, Brentford, Brighton & Hove Albion, Bristol City, Cardiff City, Charlton Athletic, Ipswich Town, Leyton Orient, Millwall, Milton Keynes Dons, Peterborough United, Reading, Swindon Town, Walsall, Watford, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Yeovil Town.
The League Cup round one ties will be played in the week beginning August 11.
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