Welsh Premier consider radical shake-up

Mar 20 2008 by Paul Abbandonato, Western Mail

WELSH PREMIER chiefs are discussing a radical shake-up of their oft-criticised league which would see it reduced to just 10 teams.

The Western Mail understands the controversial move was discussed at a Welsh Premier board meeting yesterday and will be debated fully by the 18 club chairmen next month.

The proposal, which is understood to have come from within the league itself, will be seen as a counter to the FAW idea of bringing second-string sides from Cardiff City, Swansea City and Wrexham into the competition to qualify them for Europe that way.

The FAW plan is contained in a strategic report for the future and will be discussed by their own management board at a meeting next week.

Clubs within the Welsh Premier are against the idea of reserve teams from the “big three” joining them and have devised their own revolutionary proposal for change as an alternative.

Under the new plan, the league would be reduced to just 10 clubs, with a second division of 10 lesser sides.

The proposal is modelled on the Scottish Premier League where teams play each other four times a season.

There would be end-of-season play-offs between the sides finishing at the bottom of the Welsh top flight and those at the top of the second division to determine who goes up and down.

Strict new Uefa criteria involving quality of stadia, office administration and youth academies would be required for teams eligible for the top division.

There is a general acceptance within the league at last, it appears, for the need for change to improve public interest in their competition.

Former league chairman Alun Evans believes that can happen with the introduction of sides from Cardiff, Swansea and Wrexham.

But Welsh Premier secretary John Deakin reckons that is unlikely to happen.

He did confirm, though, “A paper has been put together suggesting the possibility of two leagues of 10 teams and is being discussed by our board of directors.

“It is designed to ensure quality, rather than quantity, and the initial feedback we have had from clubs is a positive one.

“Yes, teams would have to play each other four times a year, but the Scottish League is not a bad one to model ourselves upon.

“We need to look at the success across the water in Ireland, where they have streamlined their league to great effect by reducing the number of sides.”

As regards Cardiff, Swansea and Wrexham, Deakin said, “That idea has still not been officially put to us. It may be in the future and, if so, we will look at it.

“As I have said many times before, I would like to see a way whereby those three can qualify for Europe via the Welsh Cup.

“Getting sides from Cardiff, Swansea and Wrexham into the league was one particular individual’s idea of upping the profile of the league, and there is no doubt we do need to enhance that profile.

“However, there are other ways this can also be done, so various avenues are being explored.

“We are looking to change because, although we have made significant progress, things have plateaued out.

“Now something really needs to be done to improve the league.

The issue of Cardiff, Swansea and Wrexham not being able to qualify for Europe has raised its head again, as a result of Dave Jones’ Bluebirds reaching the FA Cup semi-finals.

Uefa president Michel Platini says he will put pressure on the English FA to nominate Cardiff for Europe, in the event of them lifting the cup for the first time since 1927.

The FA are loathe to nominate a Welsh club, but say they are reviewing their policy.