WALES’ big three of Cardiff City, Swansea City and Wrexham are to be let back into the Welsh Cup from next season, opening the door to great Euro nights here again.
The Western Mail has learned the FA of Wales ruling council agreed to the dramatic U-turn at a meeting earlier this week.
Their decision clears the way for the Bluebirds, Swans and Dragons, as well as Newport County, Merthyr and Colwyn Bay, to bolster the competition, attract sponsorship and make it great once again.
The Welsh Cup has lacked credibility, a sponsor and become a turn-off for the Welsh public after our leading clubs were controversially kicked out of the competition back in 1995.
The FAW made the contentious decision after claiming the presence of Cardiff, Swansea and Wrexham, who each play in the English pyramid system, would affect League of Wales presence in Europe.
But since then, Welsh Premier teams have produced a string of embarrassing results in Europe and consigned great old days – like Cardiff beating Real Madrid and Wrexham reaching the Cup Winners Cup quarter-finals – to distant memory.
If any of one of Cardiff, Swansea, Wrexham or Newport win next season’s Welsh Cup, the FAW are then ready to put forward their name for a place in the 2011-12 Europa League.
They would tackle any political issues then and plan talks with the big clubs about the whole matter in the near future.
The presence of the Bluebirds or Swans would instantly help restore European credibility to Welsh club football. Better results at that level also play a part in Wales’ FIFA ranking, so would inevitably boost Gary Speed’s team as well
walesonline.co.uk