Day of reckoning beckons for FAW and UEFA licence hopefuls

Welsh football clubs across the country are awaiting the result of FAW domestic and UEFA licence applications, with the FAW set to announce both successful and failed submissions on Thursday 6 April.

All 12 Welsh Premier League clubs are awaiting news on their domestic licence, along with a number of feeder league clubs who aspire to reach the WPL.

The FAW domestic licence is a mandatory requirement for Welsh Premier League clubs, and feeder league clubs seeking promotion to the top flight – any club without a domestic licence cannot play in the WPL.

The UEFA licence is a separate licence with no bearing on league status, but is pre-requisite for clubs who play in Europe.

Since the inception of licensing and the introduction of improved standards for a 12-team league, a number of teams have been denied access to or demoted from the top flight.

Last season Port Talbot failed to retain their licence and were demoted to the Welsh League Division One, whilst Caernarfon Town were denied promotion to the Welsh Premier League having dominated the Huws Gray Alliance.

This year, all eyes will be on HGA champions Prestatyn Town as they await news on their application.

The club was rocked by a potential winding up order in November which cast not only the club’s promotion hopes but its entire future in doubt. However, a fundraising campaign is understood to have cleared the financial issue and kept the club on track for a WPL return after a two year absence.

Current Welsh League Division One leaders Barry Town are looking good for the title, sitting four points clear at the top of the table with five games to play – and news of a successful application would make the club appear ever more likely to make a historic return to the Welsh Premier.

Barry Town were one of the clubs to gain a domestic licence last year, but this will have no bearing on the 2017/18 licence as all clubs must re-apply and repeat the process.

Thursday’s decisions are not final for clubs who fail to gain a licence, as they have the right to appeal.

Y Clwb Pel Droed understands the licensing announcement will be made some time on Thursday afternoon.