FAW and clubs braced for opposition to Europe plan

The Welsh Football Association and the four English Football League clubs are gearing up to face even more opposition to their plans to introduce European qualification through a revised Welsh League Cup.

Cardiff City, Swansea City, Wrexham, Newport County, and Cardiff City would all join 12 clubs from the top flight of Cymru Premier – Wales under the proposals Prosiect Cymru (Project Wales). The winners would then qualify for the Europa Conference League.

The Football Association board will make the final decision, according to information that the EFL and some of its English club members have been informed of.

The impact of competing clubs’ tight profit and sustainability regulations, according to experts, is thought to be a factor in these concerns.

The FA board meeting is scheduled for next week, but neither the FA nor the EFL have made any comments on the plans.

A senior source at the FAW told BBC Sport Wales that they have been made aware of the EFL’s concerns and expect further resistance to Prosiect Cymru.

The proposed new competition’s details were announced on Monday by the FAW, underlining that they would not have an impact on the status of Wales’ clubs in the English pyramid, which dates back more than a century.

Additionally, it stated that the four clubs would sacrifice their ability to enter Europe through English competitions and that they would renounce any profits made by the revamped Welsh League Cup.

The FAW wants to see the introduction of the four EFL clubs a reality, believing that at least £3 million would be spent on grassroots and women’s football in Wales.

It is also hoped Cardiff, Swansea, Wrexham and Newport could improve Wales ‘ Uefa coefficient rating with their performances in Europe.