By Chris O'Brien
June 17 2004

Swansea City chairman Huw Jenkins has blasted rival-club Cardiff City's owner Sam Hammam for his recent threats to the Welsh Football Association regarding the FAW Premier Cup. The Lebanese businessman wants to remove the Bluebirds from competing in the BBC-backed tournament.

Swansea City chairman Huw Jenkins has hit-out at Bluebirds owner Sam Hammam after his recent threats that Cardiff City will not compete in the 2004/2005 FAW Premier Cup. Hammam's threats followed the Football Association of Wales council blocking a return to the Welsh Cup for the six English pyramid 'exile clubs, which saw the Lebanese businessman explode with rage as he looks for a back-door route for Cardiff City to qualify for Europe.

''I say again, this club will not be competing in a cup competition that does not have European football at the end of it." declared Hammam.

The situation is complicated, with fact stating that at present City have no direct route into Europe, and by law would not be allowed to represent England in Europe should they qualify through the domestic pyramid. The Bluebirds haven't competed in the Welsh Cup since 1995 due to their participation in the English leagues, with the Bluebirds losing a route to Europe since that time.

Hammam lead a campaign from the 'exiled' clubs to be re-instated in the 126-year-old competition, but it appears that his hopes of getting the Bluebirds back into the Welsh Cup or even being allowed to field a reserve team in the Welsh Premier have failed for the time being. His threats to the FAW regarding pulling out of the competition have angered several football chairman across the Principality, but none more so than Jacks owner Huw Jenkins.

'It's about putting something back into Welsh football rather than taking it away and I wonder if what we're looking at here is about individual gain rather than the collective benefit for all the clubs in the Premier Cup,'' announced an angry Jenkins.

''Integrating all the clubs at different levels of Welsh football in the competition was a massive step forward for everybody.

''A club like Rhyl are grateful that we are in it with them because it gives them a huge incentive to do well. All clubs in Wales should be contributing for the benefit of Welsh football as a whole.

''Why any club should think they are above that is beyond me.''

A recent blast of the BBC-backed competition was not the first time Sam Hammam has vented his fury on the Premier Cup. He labelled the tournament ''Minnie Mouse'' earlier in the season, and it was only after a meeting with FAW secretary David Collins that Hammam agreed to enter Cardiff into the 2003/2004 Cup. The City owner announced that the Bluebirds would only field a blend of youth and reserve players, yet it was an almost full-strength Bluebirds that lost to Wrexham in the semi-finals this term.

''It's up to Cardiff if they want to drop out, but why should one club hold the rest to ransom?" added Jenkins.

''European involvement for the winners would be a bonus, but we've known all along that it wouldn't be on the table and Swansea City are more than happy to play in the Premier Cup for the rewards that are already on offer.

''If Cardiff pull out, then it will be easier for us to win it.''