Can Trundle magic ignite new-look league?
Friday 13 August 2010
Lee Trundle by Chris Barney, South Wales Evening Post
THE Welsh Premier League begins a new era tomorrow with one of the most talked about footballers in Welsh football spearheading the "super 12".
Lee Trundle is the new face of the Welsh Premier League, which kicks off with a fresh format aimed at giving the nation's top flight a glossier look.
The signing of the former Swansea City striker — a £1 million recruit for Bristol City only a few years ago — has given the FAW optimism that its new-look league will catch the imagination of the nation.
Trundle, a hugely popular figure in Swansea following two spells at the Liberty, has given the FAW a big name to use as a marketing ploy, a way of selling the league to those less convinced it is the way forward.
This is a man that opted against a move to other Football League clubs in order to stay in his adopted home of Swansea.
Now he hopes to help take Neath, and the Welsh Premier League, to another level.
If Trundle is not enough to bring progress for the division — both on an off the pitch — then there are not many players who could.
Neath should be more than pleased with their summer's work. Not only did the pull off the biggest transfer coup in the history of the league, but they followed it up with other high-profile signings.
Also joining Andy Dyer's side are former Swans Kristian O'Leary, Chad Bond and Chris Jones, while Matty Collins — part of the Wales squad two years ago — is in talks at The Gnoll.
For anyone doubting the impact the new league will have, then Neath, at least, have embraced it by laying down the foundations with some big-name signings.
The critics will ask whether the likes of Trundle and O'Leary, in particular, will still be around in a year's time after putting up with trips to Airbus and Bala on a Sunday afternoon.
Time will tell on that one, but Neath should be commended for leading the way as the league starts a new chapter.
It may have been dubbed super 12 by some, but many are still to be convinced this is the way forward for Welsh football.
However, Welsh football needed a change, desperately.
Poor standards, crowds of under 100 at some games — local leagues have seen more — and a lack of media interest have led to the Welsh Premier stalling like a learner driver on his first lesson.
Those who saw the bigger picture voted for change, and the aim now is to improve.
There are, of course, big questions to be answered.
Will fixtures get stale? Teams can expect to face some opponents at least four times a season.
Will standards improve? The idea is similar to the one which triggered the birth of Welsh rugby's regions — fewer teams, more players to choose from.

Attendances
Will attendances increase? A big issue which relates to the previous two questions. Some fans from clubs demoted from the top flight may opt to follow a super 12 team, but will a fourth game against Bangor really catch the imagination?
What's so super about the new league? Nothing, if you ask the likes of Rhyl, Porthmadog and Welshpool.
It's probably best to leave this question until the end of the season.
But with S4C showing live games on Saturdays, the league can at least count on further media interest from the Welsh broadcasters.
The league kicks off tonight with champions The New Saints taking on Prestatyn, while the likes of Neath and Carmarthen are in action tomorrow and Port Talbot and Llanelli get under way on Sunday.
The demotion of former champions Rhyl based on financial grounds came as a surprise to many.
A top division without Rhyl, who attract the league's biggest crowds, will be interesting.
The South Wales clubs should play their part in ensuring that this new concept makes a move in the right direction.
Port Talbot are looking stronger again under Mark Jones, who led the club to their first European venture in the summer, while Andy Legg's Llanelli will expect to be within touching distance of the title.

Improvement
Carmarthen, under new manager Tomi Morgan, may have lost some key players, but they are targeting a big improvement on last term's performance.
And while Llanelli and Port Talbot made a swift exit from Europe, Saints and Bangor at least made some headway on the Continent to book ties against Anderlecht and Maritimo in the Champions League and Europa League respectively.
Many may point to these as one-off results in Europe, but that is another area which the 12-club system is designed to improve.
The proof of the pudding is in the eating, and results in Europe next year will give an indication of whether the new league is working.
But Welsh football can't be expected to run in a short space of time. Walk first, and at least heighten the perception of its new product.
The Welsh Premier League started back in 1992, and has made only small progress since then. The real test lies ahead.
No excuses, the template is set and the football nation waits for the new structure to come to the fore.
There are still supporters of the summer football argument, but that's the last roll of the dice.

Massive
To say it's a massive year for the Welsh Premier League is akin to suggesting Portsmouth need a few quid.
The super 12 may not have been a popular option with everybody, but progress is essential if the critics are to be silenced.