| South Wales clubs want to go Dutch |
| Tuesday 01 June 2010 |
 SOUTH Wales clubs want a Welsh Premier fixture format next season based on the system currently used in the Dutch Eredivisie. At a meeting in Carmarthen on Tuesday night, the six clubs - Aberystwyth, Carmarthen, Haverfordwest, Llanelli, Neath and Port Talbot - agreed on a 32-fixture format with a difference. Although there would be a split after the second round of games as in Scotland and Northern Ireland, with the top six and bottom six then playing each other twice again, the Welsh version would also feature an end-of-season play-off. "The biggest criticism of the split is that those teams which finish the first 22 games outside the top six cannot qualify for Europe," says a statement from the meeting. "A play-off for the final Europa League place provides the opportunity for the seventh-placed team (and possibly the eighth) to have the opportunity at the end of the season to gain the final place. "Wales has four European places, which are currently awarded as follows: Champions: Champions League second qualifying round Runners-up: Europa League first qualifying round Third-placed team: Europa League first qualifying round Welsh Cup winners: Europa League second qualifying round "The proposed system, which has been hugely successful in Holland, ensures that until the very final match of the season, there is a benefit in finishing as high up the table as possible. "It will undoubtedly arouse great interest in the league at the end of the season and show innovation and creativity. "It provides those in the bottom six with the opportunity of European football and means that all 12 teams will have something to play for until the end of the season, whether it's Champions League, Europa League or relegation." The proposal is for a play-off to be held in May, after the Welsh Cup final, as follows:
North Wales clubs are expected to discuss the proposals next week, with the final decision to be made at the league AGM on June 12. |