Editor's comments/Sylwadau gan y rheolwr y wefan
By Robert Stock
July 27 2002
WEBMASTER'S VIEW
Welcome to my weekly column/rant on the week's League of Wales news and rumours.
As we eagerly await the eleventh League of Wales season, I thought I'd give my views on the way forward for the League of Wales.
There have been many ways suggested on how to improve the League, but I feel the two best, and most plausible plans are to (a) reduce the number of sides in the League, and to (b) revert to a 'Summer League'. My reasons are as follows...
In my opinion 18 teams in the League of Wales is too much. However the League was even larger until the 1999-2000 season, with 20 sides competing in the initial League of Wales campaign, in 1992. I think a further reduction in numbers is inevitable over the next few seasons. New, and tougher UEFA rulings are likely to be in force by the start of next season. They're rulings state that a club in the top league should have 3000 seats by the start of the 2003-04 season. However, it seems unlikely that this will be the case in the 'smaller' European domestic leagues, with rumours suggesting that 500 seats will be the new criteria.
It would be interesting to see how many League of Wales clubs could meet this criteria. There will, undoubtedly, be a few 'smaller' sides who will not be able to afford the ground improvements. In my opinion these clubs should be relegated (is 500 seats such a big deal?!) making way for a smaller, and stronger League of Wales.
So what would be the ideal size for the new League. 16, 14, 12 or even 10 teams? Each have their benefits and drawbacks. A 16 team league wouldn't be much of a difference ( just 4 less games each), a 14 league team would mean too few games ( and to play each side 3 times would be too many!) , a 12 team league would mean each side playing each other 3 times (meaning two more games than with the current 18 team league) and would more than likely incorparate the Scottish Premier 'split' League, where you only play teams in your half, for the final games. I'm not in favour of that system as it would take away the chance of a potential large attendance for a smaller club. A 10 team league would make the league too elitist, meaning many of the smaller, but ambitious sides being relegated to the feeder leagues unfairly.
So what is the ideal number? A steady decrease is best, with a reduction to 16 teams being at least a step forward. However, how many teams that are in the league will depend on how many can meet UEFA's new ruling, so being out of the FAW's hands anyway. On the rare occasion of the LofW being discussed at an FAW ( 'Forget About Wales'?) meeting they seem in favour of a decrease in sides over the next few seasons.
So, on to the summer league. I'm sure we'll all be watching with interest in how it takes off in Ireland. Early signs are impressive, with crowds often reaching several thousand, sadly an extreme rarity in our own national league. The benefits are fairly obvious. Firstly we would avoid the Welsh winter (Connah's Quay may even get to play a game at their Deeside Stadium home) and the pitches would hopefully be of a higher standard, which in theory means better football. Secondly, whilst the English League is in pre-season, glory hun, I mean supporters of Premiershit clubs would be more likely to attend a LofW game, meaning higher attendances if just for a few games. League of Wales clubs who have a Nationwide League exile on their doorsteps eg. Cefn Druids, Port Talbot etc, see an increase in crowds when their games do not clash.
Let's hope that the FAW closely watch how the Eircom League copes with the summer league, and if successful, they seriously consider a similar move here in Wales
Would you like to write your own article for this website? We are looking for people to contribute their own articles, whether they are weekly, monthly or one-offs. If you want to have your say, please get in touch! lofwwebmaster@yahoo.co.uk