Daily Post bites back at criticism
Friday 28 May 2010
FAWTHE Daily Post has hit back at criticism of an article which claimed the new 12-club Welsh Premier would be anything but super.
Writing in today's paper, Ben Thornley says: "Even if it was the Daily Post’s role to function as the PR arm of the FAW and Welsh Premier League, quite how would you put a positive spin on the Super 12?
"Take Newtown’s criticism. The Latham Park side - who have failed to finish higher than 10th since the League of Wales became the Welsh Premier - have no need to apologise to anyone for being granted a reprieve by the FAW’s licensing panel.
"Unlike many of their rivals, they got their house in order in due time and have reaped the benefits.
"However, had they read the domestic licence criteria with the abandon evidently paid to this column’s examination of the revamp, then it is unlikely the mid-Wales outfit would have sneaked into next season’s competition.
"In an open letter published on Newtown’s club website, it was said the Daily Post suggested the FAW should have bent the rules to allow Rhyl to stay in the Welsh Premier.
"Newtown’s letter used the words “bent the rules” in quotation marks, but the article didn’t even hint at this.
"Nor did it criticise the decision of the panel to deny Rhyl a licence on appeal. Given the lack of transparency of last week’s hearings it would be impossible to give an opinion.
"Instead, I suggested that the whole process should have been far more flexible, with greater assistance provided to clubs to help them meet the standards set. Even then it was more the case of Cymru Alliance champions Llangefni I had in mind.
"Whatever the FAW’s vision is for the future of this country’s game, it appears not to involve rewarding success on the field-which is where relegation and promotion should be decided, not in a Cardiff office.
"The only way for Llangefni to generate the finances necessary to improve their ground in such a short space of time would be to play in the Super 12. But by imposing such draconian standards the administrators have created a glass ceiling at the summit of the Welsh Pyramid feeder leagues.
"Such is the expense involved for many clubs to meet the domestic licence criteria, that unless they gain financial backing they are unlikely ever to taste top-flight football. That can only be unhealthy for Welsh football.
"Similarly, the article did not accuse the FAW of southern bias. Rather, I said that given the devastating impact the Super 12 has had on North Wales’ Welsh Premier representation and feeder leagues, one could understand why many in this region feel that way.
"The Newtown letter called on the Post to support the Super 12.
"If by that the club means providing the same level of coverage to North Wales’ four remaining teams, then, yes, we will.
"The only difference will be that with the likes of Rhyl now in the second tier, the profile of the Cymru Alliance will be advanced in our pages.
"The Post would be found wanting in its responsibility to North Wales’ clubs and supporters if it did not question the failings of the process which has led to the formation of the rebranded top flight.
"The Super 12 was supposed to herald a new level of professional standards in Welsh football, but it has only served to expose amateurism behind the scenes.
"With just over two months before the resumption of action, the division has yet to decide on the nature of next season’s competition, let alone how many games it will be comprised of, meaning teams can’t even begin to plan their budgets for the next campaign.
"Such matters should have been sorted at least a year in advance.
"One of the great strengths of the league was the variety of teams it possessed. But if that is what the FAW and Welsh Premier wanted there should have been a gradual reduction down from 18 members over the course of two or three years.
"This would have lessened the impact on the feeder leagues-who unforgivably had no say on the matter-and allowed sides a more realistic deadline to work towards attaining their domestic licence.
"Opposition to summer football-which would be the best solution to the problems faced by the league-has often centred on an unwillingness to break from tradition.
"Surely, though, moving to a 44-game season will be a greater wrench.
"And as Tomi Morgan noted, if clubs struggled to draw crowds this season, supporters are unlikely to be attracted by watching more games against the same teams.
"The other options open to the league are even less appealing. Splitting the division into two at the half-way stage is exactly the sort of faddy system that is destroying club rugby. What next, a play-off to win the title? Cheerleaders? American football-style names? The Bangor City Buccaneers, the Prestatyn Panthers?
"Unless the FAW and Welsh Premier can quickly address the weaknesses of the Super 12, ambitious and well-supported sides like Rhyl and Bangor may start to believe their interests would be best served in the English pyramid. Then the league really will be in trouble."