Wrexham take big step towards playing European football as new competition announced
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Wrexham have received a major boost to their hopes of playing European football after plans for a revamped Welsh League Cup were announced. Under the proposal, which is subject to approval from the Football Association (FA), the four Welsh clubs which currently ply their trade in the English Football League (EFL) will compete into the tournament along with the 12 Cymru Premier sides.
The four clubs in question are Wrexham, Championship sides Swansea and Cardiff and League Two outfit Newport. The Football Association of Wales (FAW) say the winner of the tournament will enter the qualifying rounds of a UEFA club competition. Swansea were the last Welsh team based to compete in Europe, reaching the last 32 of the Europa League in 2014 after qualifying for the tournament by winning the League Cup the previous year.
The FAW claim the revamped competition could generate an additional £3million per year for Welsh football. "This will be a gamechanger for the development of the game as we work to unlock the full potential of Welsh football," FAW chief executive Noel Mooney said.
"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 and grassroots facilities across the country. It also represents the spirit of collaboration and cooperation among football associations across the United Kingdom ahead of the home nations' joint co-hosting EURO 2028.".
