Noel Mooney: Cymru Premier likely to be ‘bigger’ as financial injection promised

Noel Mooney has revealed that the Cymru Premier is ‘likely’ to expand amid the FAW’s plans to revamp the league. 

The FAW’s CEO has the daunting task of transforming the top flight of Welsh football which is in dire need of changes to bring it up to standard with the rest of Europe. Mooney who was a goalkeeper in the League of Ireland saw a drastic change back in his home country and is hoping that the FAW can replicate what Ireland have done. 

Last year, the FAW canvassed clubs for their opinion on the league, which included their preference for the format of the league as well as scheduling. A survey was sent out to managers, players, and supporters to give their thoughts on the league. 

Two workshops have since been held in both Aberystwyth and in Broughton and now further discussions are to be held before any plans are formed and put forward for review. Conversations are being held with UEFA this week, and the FAW have also advertised for the role of Head of Domestic Leagues.

“It’s clear we need to have a big plan for this league,” said Mooney who was speaking to Welsh broadcaster Sgorio during half-time at Colwyn Bay versus Caernarfon Town. 

“It needs a lot of investment, marketing, and communication. S4C do a fantastic job and we need to keep growing. 

“It needs better stadiums, it’s great to see this beautiful new stand here in Colwyn Bay. Discussions with the clubs we started late last year, in January we had meetings in Aberystwyth and were up in Airbus a couple of months ago finishing off those discussions. 

“We’ve reached agreement on a plan and it’s got eight pillars in it. We’re going to market for a new CEO for the league. We’re going to invest a few million pounds into this league. 

“It needs it and I know from experience working across Europe that you need to invest in things and you need everyone on the same journey. This plan will take us from now until 2030 and will bring Welsh football and this league to this new level.”

The purpose of the Cymru Premier is still yet unknown with Welsh football impacted by the decision of its four biggest clubs playing in the English system. Average attendances are usually around 500 and the only television deal it has is with S4C, which means there are only small income streams to Welsh clubs.

Welsh clubs will also be impacted in the 2024/25 season when there is a removal of a European spot, which makes up the prize of the end-of-season play-off. The league currently splits into two conferences after 22 games, with third versus seventh involved in the play-offs unless a team in the top two wins the Welsh Cup.

He added: “There are eight pillars, we’re going to have things like performance, facilities, marketing, and community engagement. The structure of the league was discussed a lot. 

“People go straight to it it’s 12 teams, and it’s not enough and all that kind of stuff. I think discussions with the club it’s fair to say with people the general direction of the league will be a bigger league probably, I don’t know if it’ll be 14 or 16, that’s not for me to say. They’ll be a group set up among the clubs and the FAW, and then discussions will go on for a few more months.

“The general direction seems to be that you’ll see a bigger league I’d say and that will be more investment for the FAW as well. I think it’s time now. We’re working closely with UEFA on what this league will look like.

“We’ve got meetings this week with UEFA on the funding which is the big thing, you need to put money into this league. You need to build stands like we see behind us today we need to invest in infrastructure and community development, and the league will be bigger I’d say.

“When the new CEO for the league she or he’s job will be to work with the clubs using insights and data, I think what you’ll see is a bigger league in the future.”

(Pic by Sam Eaden/FAW)