New Saints chairman Mike Harris suggests WPL quota for national team

The New Saints chairman Mike Harris has suggested to the FAW about implementing a quota for the national side.

Harris suggests that Ryan Giggs should include one player from Wales’ top flight for each squad that he names.

International players like Ryan Hedges, Owen Evans, Gwion Edwards, and Tom Bradshaw have been involved in the Welsh pyramid before being included in Wales squads.

“I think Wales should introduce a quota system,” said Mike Harris who was speaking to WalesOnline.

“One player in the squad must come from our league, that figure could grow to five or six over 10 years.”

“Look, I’m not saying there should be six in there right away, or they should be in the starting XI. But just one in each senior squad would start it.

“Then people begin talking about that player, say from Connah’s Quay, Leeds United want to buy him, the transfer fee comes back into Welsh football. Pedigree turns into money which develops even better players.”

There are a number of examples in which players who have started career in Wales, have then gone on to represent Wales, earning a trade in the professional game.

Steve Evans was a Welsh Premier title winner with TNS before joining Wrexham in 2006, earning a Wales call-up.

Mark Delaney had spent two seasons with Carmarthen Town, before moving to Cardiff City in 1998, making his Wales debut in 1999, becoming the first Welsh top-flight player to represent Wales.

Owain Tudur-Jones was at Bangor City, before moving to Swansea City in 2005. Tudur-Jones represented Wales a total of seven times.

Harris also suggested the idea of reducing the league to eight full-time teams to improve the product.

The league was reduced from 18 teams to 12 in the 2010/2011 season.

“The Welsh FA need to continue to modernise, have belief in our product.

“I’m not advocating reducing the size of the league, but if it were to shrink to say eight clubs, they could share TV and sponsorship deals. But they must go full-time in return. The League would improve again.”

(Featured Image: Brian Jones and Lewis Mitchell)