TALKS have taken place between Aberavon RFC and Port Talbot Town FC over moving to a new shared stadium.
Officials from the two clubs have held several meetings — together with council chiefs — over the issue.
Port Talbot Town seem likelier, however, to re-lay the pitch at their GenQuip Stadium home with a 3G synthetic surface.
The Welsh Premier League club have been in negotiations with Aberavon RFC about the potential construction of a dual-purpose ground funded by Neath Port Talbot Council.
Like the Liberty Stadium, which houses Swansea City and the Ospreys, the arena would be built and run by the council and its chosen contractors.
That would appear to be a sticking point for Port Talbot, who would stand to make more money from the redevelopment of their own GenQuip Stadium.
"We've got two options at the moment," said Andrew Edwards, Port Talbot's chairman.
"One is where we can put a 3G pitch in at the GenQuip Stadium through the FAW, who are looking to re-lay 3G pitches around Wales. We've expressed an interest and presented a business plan for that.
"Option two is the possibility of us going to a brand-new purpose- built stadium, ground-sharing with Aberavon. There's still a lot of water to go under the bridge and a lot of hurdles to overcome, but it is also a strong possibility. We've been to several meetings with the authority and the rugby club."
While a potential shared stadium would be owned and maintained by the council, re-laying the GenQuip Stadium pitch would be for the sole benefit of Port Talbot.
"It is an advantageous option for us because we will have an income stream from having the 3G pitch at our own stadium," Mr Edwards added.
"We're a bit uncertain whether we would or would not have an income stream if we moved to a new stadium. Discussions are still ongoing, but no firm decision has been taken."
Aberavon chief executive Andrew John said: "It doesn't look like it's going to come to anything. If Port Talbot put a 3G pitch in their own stadium, the issue will be dead in the water. Talks have taken place but it's not an option at the moment."
