Cymru Premier table: How season would finish on a points per game scenario
CARDIFF, WALES. 18 January 2020. Cardiff Met Uni FC vs Caenarfon Town FC in the JD Cymru Premier league at Cyncoed Campus in Cardiff. Photo © Matthew Lofthouse - Freelance Photographer.
Points per game (PPG) has been mentioned as a possible way to conclude the 2019/20 season – but where would that leave the top flight of Welsh football?
There are still questions over what might happen if the Cymru Premier season cannot be completed.
Connah’s Quay are four points clear at the top and was in a strong position to end TNS’ eight-years of dominance.
Cymru Premier fixtures have been suspended until mid May however suspension on football is expected to last longer than that.
“It would be preferable that suspended domestic competitions would restart with a different format in a manner which would still facilitate clubs to qualify on sporting merit,” said UEFA following a videoconference with their Executive Committee today on how seasons could be conducted.
One suggestion has been to conclude via a PPG basis – so here’s where the Cymru premier teams would rank should that be the case:
The Cymru Premier table on a points-per-game basis:
- CONNAH’S QUAY NOMADS 2.15 (UCL)
- THE NEW SAINTS – 2 (UEL)
- BALA TOWN – 1.88
- BARRY TOWN UNITED – 1.68
- CAERNARFON TOWN- 1.46
- NEWTOWN – 1.40
——————————————- - CARDIFF MET – 1.40
- CEFN DRUIDS – 1.40
- ABERYSTWYTH – 1.03
- PENYBONT – 0.84
——————————— - CARMARTHEN – 0.72 (R)
- AIRBUS – 0.65 (R)
There be no wholesale changes in the table given there aren’t many teams who have a huge fixture backlog. Six teams have played 26 games and the other half of the league have played 25.
Connah’s Quay Nomads – holding a four point gap over TNS – would finish above Scott Ruscoe’s men and win the title by 0.15 points.
The New Saints would claim a Europa League spot for their second-placed finish.
Where it would get complicated is if Bala Town would also be rewarded a spot as at times, a third-placed team would may compete in the Europa League play-offs, should a top two side have not won the Welsh Cup.
Involved the Welsh Cup semi-finals are second-placed TNS, fifth-placed Caernarfon and seventh-placed Cardiff Met. Prestatyn Town are also in the semi-finals however they don’t possess the UEFA Licence.
Newtown, Cardiff Met and the Cefn Druids are all level on 1.40 points-per-game but Met hold the better goal difference of the three sides.
However how the Cymru Premier works are the season splits into two after 22 games, so Newtown could be rewarded for their stronger season in the first part of the campaign.
Goal difference could play a role in separating teams level on points per game, which would see Met pip the Druids to a European play-off.
The Druids are also in the process of appealing the FAW’s decision to refuse them a Tier One Licence which could result in relegation, never mind missing out on a European spot. They also require a UEFA Licence to compete in the Europa League play-offs.
Airbus UK and Carmarthen Town would be relegated on sporting merit, however, the Druids currently don’t have the licence to compete in the Cymru Premier. They and Airbus UK announced their decision to apply the initial decision and will find out the outcome in the coming weeks.
Carmarthen could get a reprieve depending on the licensing decisions. They could either keep their place should the Druids fail or they would also keep their place depending on the outcomes of Prestatyn Town and Flint Town United.
(Featured Image: Matthew Lofthouse)
