10 August ~ It's been a difficult couple of weeks for the Football Association of Wales (FAW) with the national side slipping into the bottom pot of seeds for the 2014 World Cup and the continued uncertainty surrounding the future of Wrexham. The FAW are also struggling to deal with the consequences of recent actions (or, in one case, inaction) which have seriously damaged their relationship with the 12 teams of the Welsh Premier League (WPL). Last season the FAW reduced membership from 18 to 12 teams and introduced end of season play-offs for the final Europa League qualification place.

The success of this restructure is still inconclusive but few would argue that current membership of the WPL is potentially lucrative, with a quarter of the league now gaining a European place each season. While European results have never been good (all Welsh teams have already been knocked out this season) results and performances are gradually improving. 

A fourth European place is also available to the winners of the Welsh Cup. Since the inception of the WPL, participation in the Cup has been open only to those clubs in the Welsh pyramid system. But the clubs based in the English leagues have been invited back into the Welsh Cup for 2011-12, partly in the hope of attracting a sponsor. There was no guarantee that an English pyramid-based winner would be allowed by UEFA to enter the Europa League, so this was quite a gamble by the FAW. For the WPL clubs it might mean that there would be one less European place available, but there would be a larger number of lucrative paydays for those teams drawn against Swansea or Cardiff during the competition.

To the embarrassment of the FAW, both Swansea and Cardiff then declined to enter as both wanted assurances that they would be allowed to play in the Europa League if they won the Cup (a decision that will be down to UEFA). Other English league clubs (Newport, Wrexham and Merthyr) decided to take part, however. While none will provide significantly larger gates for WPL opponents, they are good enough to potentially win the trophy and Wales could find itself losing a European place if (and probably when) UEFA fails to admit them. Frustrated WPL clubs are also asking why those in the English pyramid now get access to the Welsh Cup in addition to the far more lucrative FA Cup.

To rub salt in the wound the FAW announced that they were still looking for new sponsors for the WPL and the League Cup – the existing backers of both competitions decided not to renew their deals. The WPL sponsorship deal was not large, generating only about £5,000 a year for each club, but this is revenue they can ill afford to lose. To be the only home nation not to have its national league sponsored next season is embarrassing enough and this has been made even worse by the admission by the FAW that not all identified potential sponsors were even contacted.

The FAW have been working frantically to have something ready for the new season on August 13 and have just announced a three-year deal with North Wales-based betting shop chain Corbett Sports. While this is unlikely to improve on the previous modest deal it is at least a little chink of light in a dark few weeks for the FAW. Paul Ashley-Jones

Share this article:

Subscribe to this comment's feed