Wrexham, along with three other Welsh EFL clubs, could benefit from a new pathway to qualify for European football.
The Football Association of Wales (FAW) detailed on Monday how the ambitious League One team, owned by Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, could participate in a revamped Welsh League Cup. Alongside Cardiff City, Swansea City, and Newport County, the Red Dragons would compete with the 12 JD Cymru Premier teams to win the tournament.
The victor would then progress to the qualifying rounds of a UEFA competition, believed to be the Conference League. The FAW fully supports the plans, dubbed Project Cymru, which it claims could generate an additional £3 million per season for Welsh football and boost Wales’ co-efficient for European competitions.
However, the proposals have sparked controversy, with Wrexham’s previous owners voicing concerns last week that it could threaten the club’s future in the EFL. As the plans reach a critical phase, Mirror Football explores what they would mean in practice and why approval is far from certain.
Swansea were one of the initial driving forces behind the concept, first unveiled last autumn, reports Wales Online. The Championship side commissioned an independent report by Deloitte, emphasising the “transformational” impact it would have on the Welsh game.
Wrexham, Cardiff and Swansea were all quick to join the discussions. Newport, however, needed a bit more persuasion, according to the BBC, due to their previous High Court battle against the FAW in 1995 to remain in the English pyramid, but they eventually warmed up to the idea.
The EFL clubs can currently only qualify for European competitions via the FA Cup, EFL Cup or Premier League, but the new plans could see them potentially enter via the Welsh League Cup instead. They would continue to play in the English pyramid, but they would give up their ability to reach Europe through the aforementioned routes.
The new Welsh competition would see the clubs compete alongside Cymru Premier sides in a 16-team, four-round knockout tournament. As with the criteria for the EFL Trophy, they would be required to meet player experience standards to ensure they field a strong team. The FAW hopes to introduce the new format from the start of next season.
This week is the first time the FAW has really outlined the benefits in detail. It’s very much a sales pitch to try and convince the relevant bodies that this is a good idea. It’s hoped the revamped Welsh League Cup could generate an additional £3m per season for the game across Wales.
The four EFL clubs have agreed to exclude any profit derived from representing Wales in Europe for financial regulations in the EFL or English Premier League. The qualification of an EFL team could also boost Wales’ co-efficient for European competitions, which is currently among the lowest in Europe, due to the likelihood of them progressing further.
From a Welsh perspective, the plans seem beneficial, offering EFL clubs a better shot at qualifying for Europe. The fact that any increased revenue will be redistributed has led Cymru Premier clubs to unanimously support their introduction into the tournament.
However, the status of Wrexham, Swansea, Cardiff and Newport within the English football system is contentious. The Wrexham Supporters Trust (WST), who owned the Red Dragons for nearly a decade before the club’s Hollywood makeover, voiced concerns last week.
A spokesperson stated: “The board’s position is that while we’d love to see Wrexham play in European competitions again if that meant that our continued membership of the EFL was in any way threatened, we are against it.” It’s understood the four EFL clubs have sought assurances from the FA that their status within the English system is safe.
The proposal has faced opposition from within the English game, with one club executive reportedly accusing the teams of wanting to “have their Welsh cake and eat it”, according to the Daily Mail.
The Athletic, meanwhile, has revealed that the EFL board is sceptical about the proposed changes to the footballing landscape.
In a recent article, they reported: “When asked for feedback by the FA, the EFL board advised the English governing body to withhold approval, citing concerns about the integrity of its competition, the congested calendar and commercial impact.”
The plans are now at a crucial juncture after discussions with UEFA, the Secretary of State for Wales, and the Welsh Government. The next significant hurdle is gaining the full English FA board’s approval, which is seen as a formidable challenge.
Initially, it was thought a sub-committee would review the proposals, but due to the gravity of the matter, it will now go before the entire board. English clubs have been notified that they will be included in the consultation process, while Welsh EFL clubs reportedly harbour private doubts about the likelihood of the plans being greenlit.
Wrexham’s co-owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney haven’t spoken out directly on the issue, but club director Shaun Harvey has expressed support in the past. He talked to The Leader newspaper in October about Wrexham’s historic European matches, including their triumph over Porto in 1984.
He said: “We are interested because we have got an obligation to give the club the best chance of success. Football in Wales has a rich history, and if those glory days can return to Wrexham at some point in the future, it will be another milestone on an incredible journey.”
The FAW chief executive, Noel Mooney, stated: “This will be a game-changer for the development of the game as we work to unlock the full potential of Welsh football. It will unite Welsh football, improve the game at all levels, and deliver meaningful societal benefits across Wales making our clubs and communities more sustainable.”
“It will generate significant additional revenue through a revamped Welsh League Cup competition with expanded participation of the four highest-ranked Welsh clubs that participate in the English football pyramid. This will be distributed throughout the JD Cymru Premier, Genero Adran Premier (Wales’ top women’s league) and grassroots facilities across the country.”
The FA has yet to announce a date for when a decision will be taken, but it will need to be soon if the FAW’s hopes of introducing the new format from next season are to be realised.
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