By Matthew Burgess

The FAW’s annual club licensing announcement has been met with mixed emotions after the Cymru South’s two leading promotion candidates both failed to achieve the necessary criteria to enable them to compete in the Cymru Premier.

Cymru South leaders Llantwit Major and title rivals Pontypridd Town can appeal the initial decision but as things stand, neither will be able to gain promotion this season despite finishing in the top-two.

Fellow Cymru South sides Cambrian & Clydach and Llanelli Town were also refused, whilst Taffs Well and Ammanford earlier withdrew their applications.

Of the Cymru South clubs, only fifth-placed Briton Ferry Llansawel and sixth-placed Carmarthen Town successfully achieved the Tier 1 licence that is necessary to play in the Cymru Premier. Briton Ferry trail second-place by 10 points and with four rounds of games remaining, it will almost certainly be too late for them to finish in a promotion spot.

We are obviously very disappointed this evening. Due to the large fines in place we won't say much more, but kids growing up playing football dream of winning goals, trophies, and penalty saves – not paperwork. 4 matches left and no matter what we will be proud of our season.

— CPD Llanilltud Fawr/Llantwit Major AFC (@LlantwitMajorFC) April 7, 2022

Recently confirmed Cymru North champions Airbus UK Broughton were able to rubber stamp their return to the top-flight as the only northern-based club to gain a Tier 1 licence, and therein lies the problem – just three Tier 2 clubs achieved the licence of 13 teams, who originally applied (not including Bangor City, who withdrew from the league).

The fall out of this has an immediate impact on the Cymru Premier, where the season had been unfolding with increasing drama and intrigue in the bottom-half of the table. Currently, only five points separate Cardiff Met, Haverfordwest County, Aberystwyth Town, Connah’s Quay and Barry Town for the remaining relegation place.

However, with no team from the Cymru South able to come up, that second relegation spot no longer exists and any narrative or interest around that gripping relegation battle has just fizzled out, leaving those bottom-six clubs with fixtures that are essentially now meaningless. This is not an appropriate, sporting way for a top-flight European league to be determined and it cannot continue.

The impact is hardest felt by the Tier 2 clubs, who’re typically even more resource-stretched than their Tier 1 counterparts. Achieving the licensing criteria usually incurs increased costs for the clubs, whilst loyal volunteers (not employees) are burdened by a considerably demanding workload, that is offset by the affection they have for their club. And for what exactly? Notification with four games remaining that you won’t be able to gain promotion after all?

Aware I may get reprimanded for this but someone has to say it. The fact that the promotion/relegation spots are decided almost annually by off-the-pitch matters is absolutely farcical and we need this to stop because it makes our national system look like a joke https://t.co/uYRPuGSAw8

— Richard Taylor (@RichLido) April 7, 2022

Whilst the frustrations from clubs and officials have to be acknowledged, the actual evolution of the licensing process itself should not be demonised. It exists for the greater good of the game in Wales and aims to develop and standardise all aspects of club infrastructure. People will often complain that Welsh football is in the dark ages, well this is helping to modernise it. Licensing is not an exclusive feature to only our leagues either, with various requirements and expectations implemented across all levels of football. The licensing itself is not the actual problem, rather how it’s currently implemented in its current guise.

If so few Tier 2 clubs are able to achieve a Tier 1 licence and the Cymru Premier is unattainable for most, then what does that tell you about the wider picture of the Welsh football system?

If we want a fluid, dynamic promotion and relegation system with growth across the Cymru Leagues, then why are clubs fighting a losing battle to comply with Tier 1 requirements?

The answer is not about scrapping the licensing process but the FAW must now reflect and accept the current licensing system isn’t working. The association needs to consult with its clubs and enable more supportive measures to finally make the process more manageable and workable.

And whilst we once again celebrate the achievements of our men’s national team, the root of the issue here is that domestic football is failing our clubs, and not that the clubs are failing their licensing requirements.

Featured image courtesy of Lewis Mitchell/FAW