Ridsdale in favour of shock Euro plan

Jan 10 2008 Western Mail

CARDIFF CITY chief Peter Ridsdale wants urgent talks with the FA of Wales to thrash out the nuts and bolts of ambitious new plans to project Dave Jones’ Bluebirds into the Uefa Champions League.

FAW bosses have discussed in private a proposal to put teams from Cardiff, Swansea and Wrexham into the Welsh Premier next season ... with the title winners competing in the Europe’s premier club competition in 2009.

Ridsdale, who walked football’s corridors of power during his time as an FA Premier League board member with Leeds, fully understands the political minefield the shock plan will throw up.

He is in favour of the idea in principle ... but only if the Football League futures of Cardiff, Swansea and Wrexham are first guaranteed in writing.

The FAW seem to believe there is no issue with our big three continuing in the English system, but also fielding sides in the Welsh Premier.

However, Ridsdale wants assurances from officialdom in England and from Uefa bigwigs.

In the first instance, though, he is calling for talks with FAW bosses to learn the full details of the European proposal in front of them.

The idea which puts the Bluebirds, Swans and Wrexham in line for tangling with Europe’s elite next year is recommended in the FAW’s strategic plan 2007-2012.

Ridsdale, who himself stood but failed to gain election to the FAW’s ruling body, said, “This is a perfect example of why I believe representation is needed at that level from the three League clubs in Wales.

“We could have offered our input into this whole idea from the viewpoint of Cardiff, Swansea and Wrexham, instead of learning about the plan in this manner.

“But as I discovered first hand when I stood for election myself in the summer, it is not easy for a figure from one of the three main Football League clubs to get on the FAW council.”

Ridsdale has plenty of experience of Champions League football, having been chairman when Leeds reached the semi-finals earlier this millennium.

“Clearly I know about the finance, rewards and glamour Champions League football can bring. As such, I am certainly not against this idea for Cardiff,” said Ridsdale.

“However, what needs to happen first and foremost is for the FAW to hold talks with us so they can fill us in on the exact detail of their plan.

“I have to say I am somewhat surprised that, as one of the main participants in this proposal, they have not spoken to us about it yet.

“There are so many issues that would need to be thrashed out. For example, I’m not convinced Uefa would permit players to be registered in two leagues in two different countries.

“Thus, would our reserves from the Welsh Premier have to play in the Champions League, or would we be able to field our regular first team?

“The other thing that is absolutely fundamental to this is our very Football League existence.

“It is absolutely paramount we have a cast-iron guarantee in writing that our position within the higher echelons of the English pyramid system would not be affected by this.

“It’s very well the FAW telling us that, but what’s to stop someone at the FA saying something different a few years down the line?

“These are the nuts and bolts I’m talking about.

“There is so much to discuss. And if the FAW are talking about us being in the Welsh Premier in August, the sooner we get round the table to discuss it, the better for everyone.

“So let’s sit down together, let’s have the debate.”

Ridsdale said the current ban on Cardiff, Swansea and Wrexham from competing in Europe was “wholly unacceptable”.

The English FA have officially minuted that in the event of any of the Welsh trio winning the Premiership, FA Cup or Carling Cup, they would not be recommended for Europe.

Equally, in Wales the big three have no European avenue open to them at present, after being kicked out of the Welsh Cup.

The Welsh Premier plan is seen as the way forward to break the stalemate, but Ridsdale still wants answers to a lot of questions.

“It is completely wrong that a side like Cardiff City can enter a number of mainstream competitions, yet find every avenue to Europe blocked, whereas that does not happen with teams from other countries,” said Ridsdale.

“It is interesting that whereas the FA have told us they would not nominate us for Europe in the event of ourselves finishing in the top four of the Premiership or winning the FA Cup, the Football League have hinted they would be more than happy for our name to be put forward should we go on to lift the Carling Cup.

“That said, it would still ultimately be down to the FA to sanction anything, and clearly the answer from them is no anyway.

“So, it appears, the European solution has to come from within Welsh football and if this new plan on the table can work, then great.

“At the moment, though, there are so many questions that need answering.

“I emphasise I am not against the idea, I just want to engage in the relevant debate with the powers that be.”

Ridsdale continued, “There is a plenty of talk about the money on offer for teams who are in the Champions League, but a lot of this is as a result of the TV revenue depending on which country you are from.

“Thus, if you are an English side from the Premiership, the Champions League can be worth between £15m and £20m a season.

“If you are a side from Wales, Switzerland or Norway, say, then the figures are nowhere near as big.

“But they would still not be insignificant figures.

“It’s another thing that would form part of the whole debate.”

Former Welsh FA chief Alun Evans, who has drawn up the new plan, explained why he has recommended the shake-up to our game.

The FAW’s ruling council will discuss the implications of Evans’ report next week, before deciding whether or not to officially put any of the proposals to Uefa.

“It is a plan for five years for the Welsh FA and it covers the whole of Welsh football,” said Evans.

“As far as the Welsh Premier league was concerned, I thought it needed a shake-up.

“For Cardiff City, Swansea and Wrexham put teams into the Welsh Premier league – we’ve gone beyond first and second teams these days with squad systems.

“Politically, economically and regulatory, it wasn’t suitable at the point in time when we created the League of Wales in 1992.

“But I think the political climate of Uefa has changed and this is the time to take advantage of that situation. We need to be moving along those lines right now.”

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