Welsh Premier Set To Expand

By webmaster/rheolwr y wefan
December 21 2003

The FAW have agreed to expand the Welsh Premier to 18 clubs from the start of next season. The move comes following widespread disapproval of each club having a free weekend due to the uneven number of teams in the league this season.

The move will mean just one club being relegated this season, with last season's champions Barry Town having their work cut out if they are to climb off the foot of the table in time to escape the drop.

Two clubs will be promoted to the league, one from the southern feeder Welsh League and one from the Northern Cymru Alliance, providing of course that their facilities meet Welsh Premier standards or a suitable ground share scheme has been approved by the Premier Licensing Committee.

In the Cymru Alliance, it seems likely Airbus UK will gain promotion being runaway leaders at Christmas. The Broughton-base 'planemakers' are already preparing for Welsh Premier football, with stadium development plans going well, ready for inspection in the New Year.

In the South it is somewhat less clearcut, with at least 3 clubs reportedly interested in applying for promotion. League leaders UWIC Inter Cardiff's plans for a return to the Premier seem uncertain with them not being able to return to their old home Leckwith Stadium. It also seems likely that Neath and Ton Pentre will again be applying, with Llanelli's Stebonheath Park also still meeting Welsh Premier criteria.

We will strive to keep you up to date with all the latest promotion/relegation news in the new year.