WHAT a time to be a Welsh football fan, the thirty year dream coming to fruition as Wales is Premier League for the first time.

It’s been three decades since a Welsh side were in the top flight – the old Division One - and for those of you who don’t subscribe to the belief that it’s good for Welsh football in general; I await explaining exactly why you’re dead wrong.

I am particularly looking at you Newport County supporters, because ‘come on Reading’ nonsense is one of two things I’ve been told by a minority of Exiles fans this past week that I take real umbrage with.

Congratulations are most certainly in order for the Swans and unless you are a Cardiff City supporter or a rugby fan who detests football, you should be jumping for joy at the prospect of Wales joining the Premier League, the most lucrative sporting division on the entire planet.

This is a dream ticket, something a Scottish or Irish club could never benefit from and the revenue, prestige and gravitas of having a Premier League side is a massive fillip for those of us who are football crazed.

From a County perspective, if you wanted Swansea to lose, I would suggest stepping out of the early 80s and into 2011, because Cardiff and Swansea aren’t Newport’s rivals anymore.

If we want them to be again, County need to get back into the Football League and then some. The Exiles have a great relationship with Swansea and it’d be brilliant news for the Exiles if the Swans can establish themselves like a Bolton or Wigan.

If they do, turnover will drastically increase, as will their squad size, youth recruitment capability and spending power.

Is it fanciful to suggest that in a couple of years League Two County could benefit from taking two or three Swansea top prospects on loan? I don’t think that’s a long stretch at all.

It’s especially satisfying that Swansea have been promoted playing the kind of football that will win a lot of friends next term and their incredible rise, from the brink of non-league eight years ago to the Premier League today, is a feel good story to inspire many other clubs.

The impact at grass roots level will be huge. Football participation is already higher than rugby in Wales. With football attendances dwarfing regional rugby, for how much longer is this a rugby nation?

Amazingly, supporting Reading isn’t the daftest thing I’ve heard this week, because other County fans – and to be clear I am not tarring all of you here, so spare me the ‘he hates us all’ diatribes on the messageboard – have told me that they feel let down by Jamie Collins, who looks set to leave. One even called him Judas.

To quote John McEnroe, you can’t be serious.

A brief history lesson should suffice here. 18 months ago Dean Holdsworth signed Jamie Collins, a man he had known since Collins was a nine-year old kid. Most fans were at best lukewarm about the signing as the side was settled.

Collins played his part in the Conference South title tilt and then in their debut season in the Conference, reverted to midfield and was week on week one of County’s best players.

In January the departed Holdsworth attempted to take him to League Two Aldershot. Collins was non-contract and the Exiles denied him a professional career by refusing to allow him to leave, in my opinion, because of ill-feeling toward Holdsworth. The right or wrongs of that isn’t for me to judge.

So Collins stayed and while many County players seemingly sulked and threw in the towel after Holdsworth left and County slumped, Collins maintained the same excellent level of form. His professionalism shone through.

And now, a free agent, based in London and in the prime of his career, Collins has the opportunity to become a professional player and earn far more money much closer to home. How anyone could deny him that is beyond me.

But the grass isn’t always greener. I am equally miffed how Kerry Morgan, a potential League One or even Championship player in my eyes and on the pitch at Wembley on Monday after the game seeing exactly how glorious football can be, is ready to essentially do a David Beckham and semi-retire into obscurity for the money.

I have nothing against the Welsh Premier League, the standard better than some people realise and some of my favourite footballers in the country – Jason Bowen, Paul Cochlin, Craig Hughes and Ian Hillier – ply their trade there. But in terms of crowds and glory, it’s not on the same planet as the Football League.

With a Europa League campaign possible, I won’t even suggest going to Neath from Newport County is a step down.

However, Morgan is 22-years old. If he doesn’t see his future at the Exiles then he should be instructing his agent to beg, steal or borrow with the aim of getting League Two or League One trials.

You and I would give anything to be professional footballers playing in front of thousands and Morgan certainly has the ability. Personally speaking, I think moving to the WPL is the wrong choice for someone of his age and ability.

Otherwise things are pretty encouraging at Spytty Park, though at this time of year, it’s perennially a case of watching this space. In terms of shaping the squad there is still an awful lot to do.

To finish I give you sport by numbers.

922: The lucky number in the Swalec Stadium to see one of the finest conclusions to a Test match one can imagine on Monday.

It’s one in the eye for those who have slaughtered Cardiff this week as a Test venue which is farcical. You can’t control the weather and any venue is liable to suffer at the end of May to that end.

Because of all the rain and the lack of action they – and I am talking three of my favourites here, Michael Vaughan, Andrew Flintoff and Simon Hughes, all critical of Cardiff – said the pitch wouldn’t do anything. It had taken Graeme Swann out of the equation. Good call chaps.

The final word goes to Stuart Broad. “That’s the most unbelievable Test win I’ve played in.”

529: The number of fans who saw Gary Speed’s first win as Wales manager. 150 from the Principality. The organisers should hang their heads in shame.

2: The number of promotions Craig Reid has enjoyed in the past two seasons. Well done Reidy.

1: The number of world champion boxers from Wales. A huge congratulation is in order for Nathan Cleverly who has the boxing world at his feet.

0: The number of Welsh winners at the Wales Open. Let’s hope Bradley Dredge, Rhys Davies, Stephen Dodd, Phillip Price, Jamie Donaldson or Liam Bond can change that come Sunday. The stage is set for a magnificent tournament.

0: The number of people who fully understand the rules and finite details of Powerplay Golf.

0: The number of people who still have any faith whatsoever in FIFA and who don’t desperately want to see widespread reform and investigation into football’s governing body.

0: The number of people in power who will actually do anything about it.