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Welsh EFL quartet set to enter new domestic cup competition with European access

By Mark Mansfield
FAW chief executive Noel Mooney (Credit: FAW)

Wales’ four English Football League clubs are set to enter a domestic cup tournament that would allow them access to European competition under the Welsh flag for the first time in three decades.

The proposal, subject to Football Association approval, would see Cardiff, Swansea, Newport and Wrexham compete in a revamped 16-team Welsh League Cup alongside the 12 JD Cymru Premier clubs.

The Football Association of Wales says the competition winner will go into the qualifying rounds of a UEFA club competition.

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Wrexham

Wrexham were the last Welsh EFL club to qualify for Europe through a domestic pathway – playing in the 1995-96 Cup Winners’ Cup – although Swansea played in the Europa League under an English banner after winning the EFL Cup in 2013.

The FAW says Cardiff, Newport, Swansea and Wrexham have agreed to exclude any profit derived from representing Wales in Europe from financial regulations in the EFL or English Premier League.

FAW chief executive Noel Mooney said: “This will be a gamechanger for the development of the game as we work to unlock the full potential of Welsh football.

“It will unite Welsh football, improve the game at all levels, and deliver meaningful societal benefits across Wales making our clubs and communities more sustainable.

“It will generate significant additional revenue through a revamped Welsh League Cup competition with expanded participation of the four highest ranked Welsh clubs that participate in the English football pyramid.

“This will be distributed throughout the JD Cymru Premier, Genero Adran Premier (Wales’ top women’s league) and grassroots facilities across the country.

“It also represents the spirit of collaboration and cooperation among football associations across the United Kingdom ahead of the home nations’ joint co-hosting Euro 2028.”

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Knockout competition

The FAW feels the revamped Welsh League Cup, which will be played in a four-round knockout competition format, could generate an additional £3 million per season.

A potential winner from the EFL could boost Wales’ UEFA association club coefficients, with the country currently ranked among the lowest in Europe.

The FAW says the plan has also been discussed with UEFA, the Secretary of State for Wales and the Welsh Government and, pending final approval, the competition would start next season.

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8 comments

Jones Arfon

Despite being a Wrexham Supporter I am totally opposed to this proposal. 24 Tier 2 Welsh football clubs will be prevented from playing in the qualifying competition. Teams like Caernarfon, Connahs Quay and potentially the New Saints wouldn't get a look in at European qualifiers. It is also an unfair competitive advantage for the 4 Welsh clubs over the other EFL. Only clubs that play in Wales should represent Wales on the European stage.

Reply
Cai

They do play in Wales - they play in Wrexham, Newport, Cardiff and Swansea.

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Ian

This could be the first step towards the Welsh clubs that presently play within the English football pyramid being asked to leave it. As presented, the Welsh clubs who compete in this new version of the Welsh League Cup will only be allowed into european competition through that tournament. Will this not, by not too much of a stretch of the imagination, very quickly lead to them all being barred from the F.A.Cup and Carabao Cup? After all, they now cannot represent England in europe so why have them in the qualifying competitions? They would only be taking the place of four English clubs who can potentially qualify for europe and can represent that country. The next step, because there are plenty of ambitious owners of National League clubs who would only be too happy to take their place, could be the putting forward of a solid case for the expulsion of these "foreign" clubs and their places being taken in the English football pyramid by fellow English clubs? This could turn out to be a very slippery slope for the likes of Swansea City, Wrexham, Cardiff City and Newport County and one that could have a few nasty surprises in store for the unwary. Stay well away from it.

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Cai

Sorry, but you're over-thinking it. Until 1995 the kind of scenario envisaged by the FAW was normal and no-one got expelled from anything. They're not going to expel two fairly recent English Premier League sides plus another that's roaring up the leagues, all with decent stadiums, just because they compete in the little Welsh Cup. If the English FA agree to changing the rules to allow it then fine. They can always change them back again if people don't like it.

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Cwm Rhondda

I think this is a great idea. For too long Cardiff, Newport, Swansea, and Wrexham have been denied the chance to win the Welsh Cup and qualify for European competition. All four clubs listed have great memories of amazing wins over some of the biggest teams in Europe. Obviously, this isn't the Welsh Cup, but the four biggest Welsh clubs will have a chance to play European football again.

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Charles Coombes

Where will Oswestry based TNS fit into this? I suggest they will be kept out so the already richer clubs get more money.

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Dewi Davies

Should they ask Merthyr town as well then?They play in the English leagues.Personally I'm against the whole idea.

Reply
Cai

Well yes they should. But that doesn't negate the idea in any way.

Reply

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I think this is a great idea. For too long Cardiff, Newport, Swansea, and Wrexham have been denied the chance to win the Welsh Cup and qualify for European competition. All four clubs listed have great memories of amazing wins over some of...

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