Cymru Premier: Welsh clubs to compete in one-legged play-offs

Andy Morrison, Colin Caton, Gavin Chesterfield and Scott Ruscoe will all be leading their clubs into Europe this year. (Image: Brian Jones, Lewis Mitchell and NCM Media)

Bala, Barry Town United and The New Saints will all compete in one-legged play-offs.

Bala Town, Barry Town United, Connah’s Quay and The New Saints will all represent Wales in Europe this summer.

Connah’s Quay will compete in the Champions League for the first time and unlike the three other Welsh clubs, will play two-legged play-ofs.

European regulars The New Saints will be absent from the Champions League draw for the first time in nine years. Bala Town are back in Europe after a year of absence after they qualified with a third-placed finish.

Barry are taking part in European competition for a second consecutive year.

All four clubs will place close attention to the outcome of UEFA’s talks this weeks as they plan for another campaign on the continent.

UEFA will hold meetings tomorrow and on Thursday (June 18) on the status of UEFA’s European competitions amid the COVID-19 crisis.

Independent Ie reports that there are to be three qualifying rounds in the Champions League and Europa League.

There will however be a change to qualifying in that games set to be one-legged affairs with the luck of the draw deciding who has home advantage.

The draws for the Champions League and Europa League draws are pencilled in for August 9 and August 10, with fixtures taking place on August 17.

Furthering on in the report, a strict regionalisation of the draw isn’t being considered although geographical considerations to pots when finalising the draw will be implemented.

It will possibly see the 2019/20 Champions League and Europa League overlap with the 2020/21 season.

Prize money for qualifying is set to remain the same according to the report.

Compensation may also be available to clubs who are drawn away for one-off fixtures.

Any decision on the matter of the format of the competitions will be issued by UEFA first and foremost.

An online press conference will be attended by UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin following the first day of meetings, as Europe’s governing body aims to offer clubs clarity on the matter.

(Featured Image: Brian Jones, Lewis Mitchell, NCM Media and Rhys Skinner)