When are these idiots who are running the FA of Wales going

When are these idiots who are running the FA of Wales going to learn?

Welsh teams are destined to get dumped out of the early stages of the Champions League, Europa League and Europa Conference competitions because the weak standard of the Welsh Premiership.

The League has been a complete let down, watched by minute crowds and, overall, dire stadiums, since it's introduction 31 years ago.

The FAW must start allowing Cardiff, Swansea, Newport, Wrexham and Merthyr back into the competition at the earliest opportunity.

Even if the five clubs mentioned put their U-21 and academy players into the Welsh Cup system - and all the clubs mentioned are forced to affiliate to the FAW despite playing in the English pyramid. They therefore should be included in Welsh cup competition.

This is the only way Welsh club involvement in Europe would not cease before a ball is kicked in August/September.

So, the FAW jurisdiction rules the Five, yet the entilement of competing in the Welsh cups and benefits thereon after are taken away.

For me, it's complete nonsense; Cardiff, Swansea, Newport, Wrexham and Merthyr are either affiliated to the FAW or they are not.

The structure is flawed and should be legally challenged.

It's a total cock up. Am I right in saying they still hold jurisdiction over us, regards punishments; and have even added +1 day to bans after red cards etc??

Surely having one of us in Europe will benefit the WFA. Some pig head still got their head up their arse with an idea that a Welsh league with us all in would be a good thing. Look at Scotland, their big two are screaming to leave!

Us in the English leagues, and Welsh cups would surely be the most profitable for revenue AND Welsh player development!

I am a bit young to have remembered European football with Cardiff but have always hoped one day to see us playing away in a European competition

Somehow I don't think that dream will ever come true

Even if we are admitted to the Welsh Cups I thought FIFA have declared that Wales cannot be represented by a club that is "outside" of the Welsh footballing system (eg we are part of the English pyramid)

When are these idiots who are running the FA of Wales going to learn?

Welsh teams are destined to get dumped out of the early stages of the Champions League, Europa League and Europa Conference competitions because the weak standard of the Welsh Premiership.

The League has been a complete let down, watched by minute crowds and, overall, dire stadiums, since it's introduction 31 years ago.

The FAW must start allowing Cardiff, Swansea, Newport, Wrexham and Merthyr back into the competition at the earliest opportunity.

Even if the five clubs mentioned put their U-21 and academy players into the Welsh Cup system - and all the clubs mentioned are forced to affiliate to the FAW despite playing in the English pyramid. They therefore should be included in Welsh cup competition.

This is the only way Welsh club involvement in Europe would not cease before a ball is kicked in August/September.

So, the FAW jurisdiction rules the Five, yet the entilement of competing in the Welsh cups and benefits thereon after are taken away.

For me, it's complete nonsense; Cardiff, Swansea, Newport, Wrexham and Merthyr are either affiliated to the FAW or they are not.

The structure is flawed and should be legally challenged.

Hi Annis,

The league and its system was flawed from the start and was pushed through by the big wigs at the time without even thinking about it.

It’s a white elephant and will never change as they are afraid to update it from their ivory towers.

I cannot see the big clubs ever getting back into it as they can’t control us and that’s what they are afraid of! The league was set up to represent Welsh football and it’s certainly not achieving that.

I knew a lot of the people involved in its setting up and a few of those still left. They won’t change anything I’m afraid in fear of losing their positions and free trips.

I gave up years ago being part of that system and unfortunately it’s not improved and has become a bit of a laughing stock.

When are these idiots who are running the FA of Wales going to learn?

Welsh teams are destined to get dumped out of the early stages of the Champions League, Europa League and Europa Conference competitions because the weak standard of the Welsh Premiership.

The League has been a complete let down, watched by minute crowds and, overall, dire stadiums, since it's introduction 31 years ago.

The FAW must start allowing Cardiff, Swansea, Newport, Wrexham and Merthyr back into the competition at the earliest opportunity.

Even if the five clubs mentioned put their U-21 and academy players into the Welsh Cup system - and all the clubs mentioned are forced to affiliate to the FAW despite playing in the English pyramid. They therefore should be included in Welsh cup competition.

This is the only way Welsh club involvement in Europe would not cease before a ball is kicked in August/September.

So, the FAW jurisdiction rules the Five, yet the entilement of competing in the Welsh cups and benefits thereon after are taken away.

For me, it's complete nonsense; Cardiff, Swansea, Newport, Wrexham and Merthyr are either affiliated to the FAW or they are not.

The structure is flawed and should be legally challenged.

Hi Annis,

The league and its system was flawed from the start and was pushed through by the big wigs at the time without even thinking about it.

It’s a white elephant and will never change as they are afraid to update it from their ivory towers.

I cannot see the big clubs ever getting back into it as they can’t control us and that’s what they are afraid of! The league was set up to represent Welsh football and it’s certainly not achieving that.

I knew a lot of the people involved in its setting up and a few of those still left. They won’t change anything I’m afraid in fear of losing their positions and free trips.

I gave up years ago being part of that system and unfortunately it’s not improved and has become a bit of a laughing stock.

Hi Karl,

Sadly Karl, you are spot on, they wont ever help the Welsh clubs that are in the English League, in fact they go against us.

How many players from that league break out and progress into the English tiers, or represent Wales? Can't be more than a handful over the years and I can't think of one off the top of my head?

How many players from that league break out and progress into the English tiers, or represent Wales? Can't be more than a handful over the years and I can't think of one off the top of my head?

Its ZERO from the players we send to these clubs on loan.

Very very low standard.

How many players from that league break out and progress into the English tiers, or represent Wales? Can't be more than a handful over the years and I can't think of one off the top of my head?

Delaney and Trundle are the two major ones I can think of that played for the senior teams The North Wales lot have sent a number of youth players to top academies thou over the years. However you usually end up in the LOW because you could not make it in the English leagues

Has anybody voiced this to Noel Mooney? (Faw CEO) he is usually very active on twitter and tries to reply to any questions. Might be worth putting some points across to him about this issue.

Dark ages blazer brigade ( lots better now than they used to be mind )
Example we play in the English league under EFL rules but if we sign someone from, say Bristol, they have to wait for international clearance!!! WTF is that about?

I do not see why the Welsh FA / FL should assist the English based teams.

We are English teams for any sort of European competition. Plus we have no right to decry the Welsh League if we are outside the league laughing in.

So let's see how we could help the situation and before I start, I do not want this.....

How quickly could we get a ten team Welsh Premier League up and running with teams based in the more populous areas or higher profile?

Cardiff City
Swansea City
Wrexham
Newport County
Bridgend
Barry
Merthyr Tydfil
TNS
Bangor City
Connahs Quay.

Each play each other 4 times. Plus there is a Premier League 2 again with 10 teams.

It would have to be subsidised heavily for a while but how long before we can get a structure up and running, fully professional with average of 6-7k fans?

The Norwegian league averages about 6k, Austria 7k, even Belgium is only about 9k.

I believe it is a Uefa/Fifa rule that teams playing in the English system cannot play in the Welsh cup. It probably protects the Welsh country identity too. I dont know why they can now play in the Nathanial Cup though. Also should a club be allowed to play in the Association cup of 2 countries - Wales & England ? I dont think it a simple atter just to say ok, let the league clubs enter the Welsh Cup (like they used to).

Anyone remember when they tried to get Cardiff, Swansea etc to leave the English system to make up the Welsh premier league,what was his name Allen evans the Welsh fa guy ,they wouldn't let Barry town play at home because they said if you are playing in an English pyramid league you can't play in Wales had to play at Worcester ground , just goes to show what they are like

At the risk of annoying people.

I’m club before country these days. I get excited for league and cup matches.

I see the international window as an annoying interruption to my winter/football season routine.

We play in the English pyramid. I find it exceptionally u unlikely any of us would rather play in the welsh prem league.
I suspect all the English pyramid club fans feel the same. Would Wrexham fans want to dominate Cardiff met or have the excitement and dreams that one day a Hollywood superstar may buy them and have a chance to climb to the upper echelons of British football?

Personally I’d be happy if we were governed by thr FA and have parity with the clubs we play against.

Likewise following on from my women’s team comments the top profession clubs in Wales NEED to be in the English pyramid. That’s where the profile is. That’s where the competition and money is. Our women’s like our men must have the ambition and chances to rise to the top of the game.

I’d be absolutely fine if we stuck a development team In the welsh prem. I’d be fine if we struck up a partnership with a club already there for our younger players (not u23 - if they are only good enough for that level then they aren’t good enough imho).

Wales can not sustain a high quality professional football pyramid. There is not the fan support. There is not the wider interest with the broadcasters and sponsors who fund the game.
Apparently rugby is the national sport. Rugby is haemorrhaging money. And we can’t support 4 pro clubs. Those pro clubs do not have anything like the crowds we get on a poor gate for us. They also do not have the overheads we have I. Terms of salaries and transfer fees etc. yet still they can’t sustain the clubs. There is even talk of pushing to join the English leagues there too!!

We must be realistic. Cardiff. Swansea. Newport. Wrexham. Merthyr. We need the English league system and should be wholly part of it including FA governance imho.

Agree about the International break.. quite annoying.
Didn’t know the Welsh League was still going.. nor what it was for in the first place.

I've never understood why we haven't used the Welsh Premier a bit more seen as we share the country we both play in.

The club should buy a team and use it as a test bed for potential u23 players. Many clubs have feeder clubs in other countries, we could literally have a feeder club 5 miles down the road.

When are these idiots who are running the FA of Wales going to learn?

Welsh teams are destined to get dumped out of the early stages of the Champions League, Europa League and Europa Conference competitions because the weak standard of the Welsh Premiership.

The League has been a complete let down, watched by minute crowds and, overall, dire stadiums, since it's introduction 31 years ago.

The FAW must start allowing Cardiff, Swansea, Newport, Wrexham and Merthyr back into the competition at the earliest opportunity.

Even if the five clubs mentioned put their U-21 and academy players into the Welsh Cup system - and all the clubs mentioned are forced to affiliate to the FAW despite playing in the English pyramid. They therefore should be included in Welsh cup competition.

This is the only way Welsh club involvement in Europe would not cease before a ball is kicked in August/September.

So, the FAW jurisdiction rules the Five, yet the entilement of competing in the Welsh cups and benefits thereon after are taken away.

For me, it's complete nonsense; Cardiff, Swansea, Newport, Wrexham and Merthyr are either affiliated to the FAW or they are not.

The structure is flawed and should be legally challenged.

Hi Annis,

The league and its system was flawed from the start and was pushed through by the big wigs at the time without even thinking about it.

It’s a white elephant and will never change as they are afraid to update it from their ivory towers.

I cannot see the big clubs ever getting back into it as they can’t control us and that’s what they are afraid of! The league was set up to represent Welsh football and it’s certainly not achieving that.

I knew a lot of the people involved in its setting up and a few of those still left. They won’t change anything I’m afraid in fear of losing their positions and free trips.

I gave up years ago being part of that system and unfortunately it’s not improved and has become a bit of a laughing stock.

Hi Karl,

Sadly Karl, you are spot on, they wont ever help the Welsh clubs that are in the English League, in fact they go against us.

What you both say is sooooo right....

The FAW are only interested in their own 'assets' and building up their own empire. There are a lot of similarities between themselves and WAG in that they are a small mix of genuine hardworking people mixed with too many sychophants just trying to 'muscle in' for their own ends...

It all started with the ramblings of the late Alun Evans and never really improved to the detrimemt of Welsh football and any real ambition their clubs had...

It is the same for their referees, i.e. no professional path to the biggest League in the world (the Premier League) so we willno longer produce such refereeing greats as Clive Thomas, Keith Cooper, Howard King, Roger Gifford and others...

The EFL clubs in Wales shouldn't expect anything from them, as it will almost certainly come at a great cost...

To consider how strong it is and how representative it is of welsh football …. How many welsh players have currently or previously played in the welsh prem system?

Considering calls are there for Mullins to be in the squad. I suspect most would say the national league is a higher standard than the cymru prem.

The Welsh FA need to be realistic. A hell of a lot of fans that come down the Wales games are from
North Wales. I’d be interested to poll just how many of them support welsh club full stop let alone one in tbr cymru prem. even down south where there are 3 clubs in the football league - there are still a lot of football fans watching English clubs.

Absolutely agree in promoting the national side and absolutely try and develop a competitive league where possible.

But they shouldn’t be trying to hinder us which is what we clearly feel that are and will do.

The FAW are a totally different animal from 20 years ago. There areother things in force here which include the status of wales within fifa and the curious relationship with Welsh clubs competing in the English system (World football politics).

I think people are being very disingenuous in slagging off the FAW as they have played a blinder over the last 20 years

Speaking for myself. I hope it doesn’t sound like I’m slagging off the faw. That’s certainly not my intention. But by the very nature of them having to deal with Welsh clubs in the English leagues. It should show that our aims and agendas don’t align fully. I’m sure we all want Welsh football to thrive. It’s great for everyone at national and club level. But domestic Welsh football is microscopic compared to Scottish football let alone English. The English league clubs - probably all of them. Are too big for Welsh domestic football and we shouldn’t be at a disadvantage for that. Ideally the FAW should welcome that and work with the clubs so we can help each other.

Hello Annis what if there another way not sure if it would be allowed but is it possible to pull out of the fa cup and join in the Welsh cup that way welsh clubs who play in the English league would have a higher chance of success playing in the uefa cup then the welsh teams in the welsh cup currently

Hello Annis what if there another way not sure if it would be allowed but is it possible to pull out of the fa cup and join in the Welsh cup that way welsh clubs who play in the English league would have a higher chance of success playing in the uefa cup then the welsh teams in the welsh cup currently

UEFA would not allow a dual affiliation for competitions.

Plus you are looking for the best of both worlds.

An unfair advantage over other English Championship teams due to the incentive and monies from European competition.

Also gatecrashing the Welsh competition just to nearly guarantee the other clubst never get a European place.

i'm not sure what you are actually calling for, under 21's teams from cardiff swansea etc in the welsh league ? or for us to be allowed to play in the Welsh Cup, for a chance for Europe, if its the second one, they probably could but we would have to leave the FA cup, as thats the english cup route into europe and we wouldn't be allowed in both, and considering the money you can make in the english FA compared to the welsh cup, and the fact english Co-efficency seedings mean english teams enter at a better stage than the welsh one, i'd rather stay in the english one.

the biggest reason the welsh league standard is soo poor is due to the likes of Cardiff, Swansea, Newport etc. we got around 18,000 fans last year, watching us play the likes of Sunderland,Brum, QPR etc. why would anyone chose the likes of Penybont over watching Cardiff Wigan for example. academies, the money we make from the english league means we all have the first choice picks for academy players, making whatever is left available to the welsh teams, who due to a bad lack of funding are all part time

now if we want to make the welsh league systems better, theres several things we can do. Summer sport, change the season dates so the season runs through may june july etc. this would probably bring in more viewers and fans from the other clubs during their off season, also would mean the welsh teams playing in europe are match sharp/fit for when the euro season campaign kicks off. TNS are the only professional side in the welsh league because they are owned and funded by a millionaire, the other clubs done have that luxury, so i reckon the FAW needs to offer more funding possibly from the money they make from wales qualifying in major tournaments to help turn these teams from "show up and play" to fully registered teams

The standard is not very good so teams year after year barely make it into the second round, but that's where they are.

To me, its not really professional football it's a community game, low-level semi-pro similar to rugby with lots of small passionate clubs associated in their area.

It has nothing to do with the four professional clubs, all should be entirely registered to the English system as there are no benefits to being in the FAW.

I believe the FAW should allow unlimited season-long loans in the Cymru premier league and have an annual invite for the Welsh EFL clubs to blood their kids. As it's a season-long loan with no early returns, the clubs would have to think long and hard about who they loan.
80% of the kids will probably we loan will probably only ever get to that standard, but the ones who may make the EFL should shine over a season even as a 17/18-year-old.

Yet another reason the old days were fun, European nights ay Ninian Park were always a fun night.