FAW reveals bold new Euro plan

Jan 9 2008 by Paul Abbandonato, Western Mail

WELSH football chiefs are discussing radical new plans to give Cardiff City, Swansea City and Wrexham the dream chance of playing in the Uefa Champions League next to the greatest footballers on the planet.

The stunning proposal, which would end the controversial European exile of our “big three” league clubs, is being recommended as the way forward in a secret report currently under review by the FA of Wales.

If the move is rubber-stamped, it could mean Dave Jones’ Bluebirds or Roberto Martinez’s Swans lining up against Europe’s elite sides like Barcelona, AC Milan and Bayern Munich as early as next year.

Welsh youngsters Aaron Ramsey (Cardiff) and Joe Allen (Swansea) would be rubbing shoulders with the cream of world football such as Ronaldinho, Kaka and Ruud van Nistelrooy.

An official 16-page document called FAW Strategic Plan 2007-2012 calls for the dramatic shake-up. It states Cardiff, Swansea and Wrexham must be permitted to field teams, which would in effect be second-string XIs, in the Welsh Premier league from August onwards.

The Welsh big guns would be eligible to go for Champions League and Uefa Cup places in 2009 as a result of finishing in the top places in the table.

If the professional clubs get into Europe, they would inevitably field their first-choice teams.

The FAW are adamant the big three’s positions in the Coca Cola League would not be affected.

The stunning move echoes a plan first hatched at the start of the millennium by former Cardiff chief Sam Hammam, who wanted to take over Cwmbran to qualify his Bluebirds for the Champions League that way.

The FAW threw out Hammam’s idea at the time after meeting fierce resistance from Welsh Premier clubs, who argued reserve sides could not play in their competition.

However, the official strategic report being discussed by the FAW recommends a U-turn in time for the start of the 2008-09 season.

The report states a change in power at Uefa, where Michel Platini has taken over from Gerard Aigner as the main man, presents a favourable window of opportunity for the Big Three which “must be seized” by the FAW.

Platini is keen to end the European exile which has been unfairly imposed upon Cardiff, Swansea and Wrexham, whereas Aigner was seen as indifferent to the ban.

The document was discussed by the FAW’s 14-man board of directors before Christ-mas and will be debated further tomorrow.

An FAW official who attended the pre-Christmas meeting confirmed, “We discussed the whole document put before us and asked lots of questions about it.

“A number of things were in the strategic plan, but the one that stood out most was this issue about Cardiff, Swansea and Wrexham having teams in the Welsh Premier.

“There is a view that, for the good of Welsh football, this chance to get the three of them back into Europe needs to be taken.”

Welsh Premier clubs will be up in arms at the proposal of losing their European spots to the big three.

Five of them would have to drop out of the league to accommodate Cardiff, Swansea and Wrexham in a streamlined 16-team competition which would be more competitive.

Intriguingly, the masterplan has been drawn up by former FAW secretary Alun Evans, who has always been the fiercest backer of the league.

Evans’ report to the FAW states that while playing standards have improved, the public perception of the league is poor and its national status questioned by the absence of teams from Cardiff, Swansea and Wrexham.

The FAW have been told that should the status quo remain, it will be “absolutely detrimental” to Welsh football.

The inclusion of the big three would enhance the league in terms of attendances, playing and refereeing standards, better stadia and results in Europe.

Leading figures from Welsh Premier clubs meet tomorrow where they will almost certainly be unanimously opposed to the bold idea.

However, the FAW have the casting vote on the Welsh Premier board and can force through the proposal.