Wrexham, Newport County and Merthyr denied entry into Welsh Cup
Jun 20 2012.
WREXHAM, Newport County and Merthyr Town have been told they cannot compete in next season’s Welsh Cup.
The three clubs returned to the competition last season after a 17-year absence.
Welsh football chiefs had hoped to follow up their inclusion by getting leading “exiled” duo Swansea City and Cardiff City to join them to boost the cup’s profile.
But Uefa, European football’s governing body, ruled earlier this year that clubs in the English pyramid leagues are not allowed to represent Wales in Europe.
And, following that decision, the FAW appears not to have extended their invite to the exiles for this year’s competition.
Wrexham and Newport’s involvement last season attracted attention, but fixture clashes undermined their return with both sides failing to make the last eight having fielded reserve sides.
Last year’s winners The New Saints, meanwhile, will find out if they have been successful in their attempt to enter the English FA Cup next month.
The Welsh Premier league champions, who beat Cefn Druids 2-0 in last season’s Welsh Cup final, had applied to enter the competition following the FAW’s bid to entice the exiles claiming it paved the way to enter two tournaments.
But the Oswestry-based outfit seem unlikely to succeed in their bid with the FA claiming new applicants had to be entered in last year’s FA Trophy to qualify.
TNS have also applied to enter next year’s FA Trophy which could potentially open up the possibility of a successful entry the following year.
Meanwhile, Port Talbot Town have completed the signing of prolific Llanelli striker Rhys Griffiths, who was again the Welsh Premier’s leading scorer last term.after seven years with the gold
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