Newcastle are to compete in the Intertoto Cup this summer with a view to earning a UEFA Cup spot after Spanish representatives Malaga decided not to enter the competition. The Magpies will join fellow Premiership side Aston Villa in the third round of the Cup with both sides seeded after a problem arose over a shortened summer break for Malaga if they were to compete.
Newcastle, who lost out a fortnight ago on a UEFA Cup preliminary round spot when they were not one of the teams pulled out of the hat in UEFA's Fair Play draw, are delighted with this second opportunity of playing in Europe next season. "If we achieve a UEFA Cup spot through this competition it would be a tremendous boost for the club," said chief operating officer Russell Cushing.
The Magpies will play either Sporting Lokeren of Belgium, Polish club Zaglebie Lubin, B68 Toftir from the Faroe Islands or Maltese outfit Hibernians. Zaglebie Lubin won the first leg of their first-round tie against Hibernians 4-0, while B68 Toftir were beaten 4-2 at home to Sporting Lokeren. The eventual winners of these two ties will then play each other for the chance of meeting Newcastle in the following round.
Filed by Amanda Fennelly
