Welsh Premier boss rules out 44 games!
Welsh Premier League secretary John Deakin has confirmed that plans to make Welsh Premier clubs play 44 fixtures next season are a definite non-starter.
Deakin told the Daily Post the proposed schedule for the new-look league would be far too demanding on its 12 clubs and alternatives would be sought at the league's AGM in June.
"Forty-four games is unrealistic - in the words of the prophet, it ain’t gonna happen," declared Deakin to the Post.
"It’s totally impractical."
Deakin pointed to the problems caused by the severe winter weather and its effect on fixtures this season as one of the main reasons why 44 matches will not work.
Llanelli ended up playing eight games in 19 days to complete their schedule due to the backlog - although their heroic efforts still nearly brought them the title.
"Imagine the problems 44 games would have created this season," he added. "It’s been tough enough getting in 34."
As exclusively revealed by welsh-premier.com earlier this week, one of the possibilities under discussion could be a reduction to just 22 league games alongside a resurrected FAW Premier Cup.
Deakin refused to confirm the resurrection of the lucrative cup competition, but says its rebirth would fall in nicely with a reduced fixture list.
"Premier Cup or no Premier Cup, there won’t be 44 fixtures next season," he stressed. "If the Premier Cup did come back then 22 fixtures would certainly be a goer, but there’s nothing firm at all."
Another alternative for the Super 12 would be the 32-fixture plan backed by Deakin last year whereby each club would meet twice - 22 games - before the league split into two groups of six, leading to another 10 matches per club.
"The alternatives will be looked at when we hold the AGM, but there has to be better options than 44 games," added Deakin, who confirmed also that the minimum of 12 'rebel' clubs needed to request an EGM aimed at overthrowing the Super 12 proposal has still not been reached.
Deakin told the Daily Post the proposed schedule for the new-look league would be far too demanding on its 12 clubs and alternatives would be sought at the league's AGM in June.
"Forty-four games is unrealistic - in the words of the prophet, it ain’t gonna happen," declared Deakin to the Post.
"It’s totally impractical."
Deakin pointed to the problems caused by the severe winter weather and its effect on fixtures this season as one of the main reasons why 44 matches will not work.
Llanelli ended up playing eight games in 19 days to complete their schedule due to the backlog - although their heroic efforts still nearly brought them the title.
"Imagine the problems 44 games would have created this season," he added. "It’s been tough enough getting in 34."
As exclusively revealed by welsh-premier.com earlier this week, one of the possibilities under discussion could be a reduction to just 22 league games alongside a resurrected FAW Premier Cup.
Deakin refused to confirm the resurrection of the lucrative cup competition, but says its rebirth would fall in nicely with a reduced fixture list.
"Premier Cup or no Premier Cup, there won’t be 44 fixtures next season," he stressed. "If the Premier Cup did come back then 22 fixtures would certainly be a goer, but there’s nothing firm at all."
Another alternative for the Super 12 would be the 32-fixture plan backed by Deakin last year whereby each club would meet twice - 22 games - before the league split into two groups of six, leading to another 10 matches per club.
"The alternatives will be looked at when we hold the AGM, but there has to be better options than 44 games," added Deakin, who confirmed also that the minimum of 12 'rebel' clubs needed to request an EGM aimed at overthrowing the Super 12 proposal has still not been reached.
Comments