Welsh Premier League Football - High farce in the Welsh League

AFTER almost 12 months of high farce, MacWhirter Welsh League clubs have finally voted to remain as a 54-strong competition, at least for next season.
The FAW instructed the league to cull its numbers by eight to 48 clubs, all of whom were told that modern-day ground criteria would be used to decide to determine relegation.
While some clubs, such as Division Three side Risca United, splashed out to meet the criteria, league officials later announced that criteria first introduced as far back as 1988 would now apply.
And in a further twist which angered many clubs, the league used finishing positions to determine promotion and relegation and tried to relegated the bottom seven Division Three clubs - including Risca United - plus Division Two outfit Maesteg Park, who had resigned from the league.
Because some of the seven relegated clubs had lodged appeals, promotion and relegation was not on the agenda at the league’s annual general meeting in June and as a result fixture lists throughout the entire pyramid system below the Principality Welsh Premier League were not published.
The FAW eventually upheld the appeals of Risca and Pontyclun and as a result member clubs voted to remain as a 54-strong organisation at an emergency general meeting in Cardiff on Monday.
In a prepared statement, MWL secretary Ken Tucker said: "After the members were advised of the recent FAW Panel decision that Pontyclun and Risca United would remain in the league for season 2010/2011, it was proposed the League remain at 54 clubs for next season only and reduce to 16 clubs in each division from 2011/2012.
"This meant Treowen Stars (Gwent County League champions) and Caerau would be promoted from the feeder leagues and Garw relegated.
"The matter of Pentwyn Dynamos, who finished second from bottom of Division Three, was resolved by them being allowed to remain in the League because of the withdrawal of Maesteg Park.
"This information has been conveyed to the FAW for consideration.”
Former Welsh Premier outfit Cwmbran Town and Llanwern will now continue as Division Two sides, but the entire draw for the first two qualifying rounds of the 2010/11 Welsh Cup must now be re-made and no fixture lists can be issued until FAW discusses whether to rubber-stamp the plan.

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