RUMOURS OVER CUP FINAL SITE

Matthew O'Connor A REAL Mallorca official has denied there will be a change to the stadium for Real Mallorca's Copa del Rey final against Recreativo Huelva on June 28. After a long delay the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) announced ten days ago that the final would take place in Elche's 38'000-seater Martinez Valero stadium. Recre were not happy with the decision due to the fact they have in the region of 15'000 season ticket holders and will only receive 12'000 tickets for the final. They subsequently petitioned the RFEF to change the final to Valencia's 50'000-seater Mestalla stadium. Valencia would in fact be better for Mallorca fans travelling by ferry and media reports suggested the club had agreed to a change. Huelvan travel agencies also weighed into the argument claiming Majorcan agencies had booked up all the hotels around Elche and nearby Alicante. Since Valencia has been touted as a new site Huelvan agencies, not to be outdone, have booked up hotel rooms in the Valencia area. On Tuesday Mallorca sent a delegation to check out the facilities in Elche where club official Juan Frontera denied any knowledge of a possible change of site. “We have had no notice of a change, the last notice we had from the Spanish Federation was on Monday of last week when they told us the final would be in Elche on June 28 at nine in the evening. “We don't work with rumours we only work with facts. We have not received anything official since the statement regarding Elche,” he reiterated. Frontera predicted between 14'000 and 15'000 Mallorca fans would be making the trip to the final, although admitted it would be difficult to book flights and hotels due to it being high tourist season. Meanwhile, reserve goalkeeper Miki Garro looks set to start for Mallorca against Alaves on Sunday. Miki should replace Leo Franco who is currently in Argentina nursing his mother who fell ill last week.