New structure agreed for Welsh Premier League
Clubs unanimously approved a new fixture structure for the Welsh Premier soccer league next season at the league's AGM in Llandudno.
After the north and south Wales clubs had already given the thumbs-up to a 32-fixture format at earlier meetings, the vote was a formality as the league prepares for its first campaign with just 12 clubs.
Under the proposal, the clubs will play each other twice before a mid-season split, which will probably take place around the end of January.
Teams in the top six and bottom six will then play each other twice more to complete the 32 games, before play-offs between the clubs finishing in third to seventh place to decide the third Europa League spot.
If the Welsh Cup winners - who qualify automatically for the Europa League - are amongst the play-off places, the eighth club will also feature in the finale to the season.
It was also confirmed that the FAW Premier Cup will not be revived next season, but that the Loosemores League Cup will be played on a straight knockout basis with ties played over two legs from a regionalised draw up to and including the semi-finals.
The New Saints, Llanelli, Port Talbot and Bangor City will receive a bye into the quarter-finals.
Outgoing chairman Phil Woosnam revealed that the FAW has no plans to further reduce the size of the league for the next two years at least and said any review on further slimming down the league would rest on how successful the "Super 12" format proved to be.
Tony Bates (Aberystwyth Town) and Ian Williams (The New Saints) were elected to the Welsh Premier board to represent the south and north Wales clubs respectively.
After the north and south Wales clubs had already given the thumbs-up to a 32-fixture format at earlier meetings, the vote was a formality as the league prepares for its first campaign with just 12 clubs.
Under the proposal, the clubs will play each other twice before a mid-season split, which will probably take place around the end of January.
Teams in the top six and bottom six will then play each other twice more to complete the 32 games, before play-offs between the clubs finishing in third to seventh place to decide the third Europa League spot.
If the Welsh Cup winners - who qualify automatically for the Europa League - are amongst the play-off places, the eighth club will also feature in the finale to the season.
It was also confirmed that the FAW Premier Cup will not be revived next season, but that the Loosemores League Cup will be played on a straight knockout basis with ties played over two legs from a regionalised draw up to and including the semi-finals.
The New Saints, Llanelli, Port Talbot and Bangor City will receive a bye into the quarter-finals.
Outgoing chairman Phil Woosnam revealed that the FAW has no plans to further reduce the size of the league for the next two years at least and said any review on further slimming down the league would rest on how successful the "Super 12" format proved to be.
Tony Bates (Aberystwyth Town) and Ian Williams (The New Saints) were elected to the Welsh Premier board to represent the south and north Wales clubs respectively.
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