There are four teams from Wales in the English football pyramid and they are now in talks over a new method of qualifying for Europe within their home nation moving forwards
Wrexham expect to have a new way into European competition as they continue their ascent after being taken over by Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney.
The Red Dragons, and the three Welsh sides who ply their trade in the English Football League, Cardiff City, Swansea City and Newport County, are in negotiations about a ‘transformational’ move. Reports claim the group are in discussions in order to enter a Welsh cup competition in a bid to qualify for European football.
Currently, teams in the English pyramid may only qualify for European competitions by winning the Premier League, FA Cup, or EFL Cup. Swansea qualified for the Europa League after winning the competition in 2013.
The four clubs are now hoping to enter the Welsh League Cup in order to compete for the opportunity to represent Wales in the Europa Conference League. However, this would eliminate the teams’ chances of qualifying for Europe through English events.
According to the BBC, following discussions with the Football Association of Wales, the idea has been given to UEFA, the Football Association, the Premier League, and the Cymru Premier. Prosiect Cymru claims that their goal is to “drive improvement for the entire Welsh football ecosystem.”
Wrexham have already stated that they hope to play in Europe someday. Since Reynolds and McElhenney took over the club in 2021, it has been promoted twice and is presently second in League One.
“That is the beauty of sport. “You just don’t know where it’s going to end,” McElhenney stated in April. “Our ultimate goal is to build a sustainable model that will allow us to not only get to the Premier League, but sustain in the Premier League and eventually win the Premier League and be in the Champions League.”
“That is part of the gambit here. “You’re surrendering to fate,” Reynolds said in the same interview. “You cannot write the script in advance. You can only work as hard as humanly possible to put the best club and infrastructure on the field, and that is what makes it so compelling. That we do not have that level of control. And in football, as in life, anything is possible.”
The New Saints, last season’s Welsh League Cup champions, became the first Welsh league club to qualify for the group stage of a major UEFA competition and will compete in the Conference League this season.
Swansea and Cardiff were given wildcard spots in Wales’ cup competition previous season.
Read more news on:https://sportupdates.co.uk/
Leave a Reply