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| Alliance could benefit most from Super 10 |
| Wednesday 13 May 2009 |
 THE Cymru Alliance could be the main beneficiary next year when the Welsh Premier League's new "Super 10" takes shape.As many as eight top flight clubs could be parachuted into the north and mid-Wales feeder league which, in common with all directly affiliated leagues, will be forced to reduce its numbers to 16 the season after next. This could plunge up to 10 clubs further down the pyramid, but those that remain will find themselves mixing with clubs that have generally far superior infrastructure than currently exists in the Alliance. Caernarfon, Caersws (if they are relegated), Llangefni and Flint have already spent time in the Premier and have grounds that currently meet Welsh Premier criteria, while ambitious Holyhead also have an excellent stadium. But they could potentially be joined by clubs such as Airbus, Connah's Quay, NEWI Cefn Druids, Newtown, Porthmadog, Prestatyn and Welshpool, depending on final league position and the ability to meet domestic licencing criteria. Stewart Roberts (pictured), chairman of Buckley Town, who are investing in improvements at Globe Way in a bid to gain promotion within three years, says the Cymru Alliance will, in effect, become the Welsh Premier's Division One North. "Overall I feel the step is a positive one," he says, and the Cymru Alliance will be very competitive with a standard that will increase all round. "The shame is though that there are clubs who have worked hard to be promoted that may be relegated back into the Alliance. "There must be something in place for feeder league clubs to have clear guidance on promotion criteria and timescales as there will now be more grey areas." North East Wales football 'guru' and Evening Leader correspondent Phil Jones says: "There is a strong perception that the voice of the clubs has been ignored. "I know the vast majority of clubs I deal with see this edict as a 'closed shop' and as an elite league but looking at it from the other side of the coin, I am sure the Councillors must be under immense pressure to follow the other progressive leagues within Europe." |