Newtown slam licensing delays
Thursday 06 May 2010
Owen DurbridgeNEWTOWN secretary Owen Durbridge says the FAW's licensing process is leaving Welsh clubs and leagues in limbo and facing a period of uncertainty.
And he points the finger at the FAW and some clubs for failing to recognise the problem of obtaining safety certificates, which has affected five clubs in Flintshire and Gwynedd.
"Quite why FAW officials have allowed the new licensing system to be finishing so late is astonishing, because the clubs who are left in limbo are not confined to the Welsh Premier League, like Newtown, but there are even more similarly affected in the Cymru Alliance, Welsh Alliance and the feeder leagues all over Wales," Durbridge (pictured) told the Robins' official website.
"It could be argued that clubs can simply prepare for next season regardless of where they play, but it is not as simple as that, particularly in Mid-Wales, as there is so much footballing choice available for our players," he went on.
"Will our first team players remain loyal to the team and the club? Will some of them be tempted to play for WPL sides which have more certainty about their membership next season?
"Newtown was one of the clubs who supported the FAW proposals for change in the WPL but we, like many other clubs, did it along with proposals for a fully funded second division of the WPL.
"Had this taken place, then the effect that is currently being experienced by the CA League would have been cushioned by the proposed second division to the WPL and no such uncertainty would be felt.
"This doubt is being exacerbated by the domestic licensing process which should have been a simple enough one.
"March 31 was the absolute deadline for the submission of documents and completion of all required building work.
"Each licensing applicant club was invited to ask for an inspection and that would be the one and only inspection for submission of findings to the licensing first instance body.
"A few days later and all the clubs were told if they had been successful or not - so we should all have been clear by then.
"Not only was there a total lack of transparency over the findings of the inspection team or the decisions of the first instance body, but a further complication has entered the equation in relation to the grant of safety certificates, all of which should have been dealt with, quite easily, within the stipulated deadline.
"We knew exactly what pitfalls clubs were going to face and I stood up at the all-Wales licensing meeting last October and pointed out to all domestic licensing applicants that it was a very difficult process to undergo.
"At this meeting, the Bala Secretary identified that his local authority had no provision for signing this safety certificate, so six months before the deadline, there was already an awareness of problems with local authorities - but what was done about it?
"It appears that the FAW have agreed to appoint a firm of consultants to assist all the clubs who have not got their local authorities to sign their certificates - but have those clubs already undertaken all the surveys in readiness for the signature? Have they had to carry out the remedial work that is bound to be highlighted by such inspections?
"We at Newtown have and we did it all before the deadline and have little sympathy for any clubs who have not carried out their work in good time.
"The failures of these clubs, or the FAW, in appointing a consultant, has now led to the state of limbo we are in," he added.
"Now as we have been dragged into a fight for places through no fault of our own. The licensing process, and particularly the issue over safety certificates, means we do not know where we stand.
"We can only satisfy our curiosity for information from rumours that are circulating and those include doubts over Bala not finishing their construction on time, Llangefni not finishing their work on time, Bangor not getting a safety certificate, Rhyl not satisfying financial issues.
"Those are some of the stories flying around on forums and in the press and until the whole process is satisfied we cannot accurately plan for the future as we don’t know where our players will want to play, either in the firsts or reserves."

No change to criteria
Meanwhile, FAW licensing officer Andrew Howard has distanced himself from a story in the Flintshire Chronicle, part of which we reproduced earlier on this site.
"There has not been any change to the criteria of the national domestic licensing manual since it was last accredited in November 2008," he says.
"Furthermore, the quotes attributed to Andrew Howard stating; "It is acceptable to us that building control issues a certificate" and "Unfortunately the decision no longer rests with me" also needs clarification as they are factually incorrect.
"Club licensing decisions are not made by the FAW, any of its staff members or council members. An independent club licensing decision-making body assessed the applications at the first instance body meeting in April, where the LABC was discussed and approved.
"A separate independent club licensing appeals body will meet on May 17th to assess the appeals and this committee also accepts the LABC's ability to authorise the safety certificate.
"The FAW's role in the club licensing system is to assist and administer with the process - not to make decisions."