By Chris O'Brien
June 11 2004

The FAW Council has decided against re-instating the 6 Welsh-based 'exile' clubs into the Welsh Cup in time for next season, as confusion continues to dominate regarding the European qualification issue. Meanwhile, a spokesman from the FA has spoke on the matter.

Cardiff City have had their hopes of being reinstated into the Welsh Cup thrown back in their faces by the Football Association of Wales Council. Bluebirds owner Sam Hammam has fought a losing battle to get the Bluebirds back into the competition, with the Lebanese businessman having one eye on City being able to qualify for the Uefa Cup via the competition.

Since Hammam started his fight, the FAW's international committee has pushed forward a plan to reinstate all 6 exile clubs into the competition next term, prompting mixed messages from Welsh Premier clubs and their supporters. However, as of yet it has been to no avail with the Association comfirming that Cardiff, Swansea City, Wrexham, Colwyn Bay, Newport County and Merthyr Tydfil will not be permitted to compete for the trophy once again next year.

"We were ready to go for this and fully anticipated Cardiff, Swansea and Wrexham being back in the Welsh Cup next season." read an FAW statement.

"However, everyone accepts the issue is a political minefield with no end of repercussions."

The main issue is not whether the 6 should be allowed to play for the trophy, but whether qualification to the Uefa Cup would be available from it. A spokesman from the Football Association has confirmed that Welsh-based sides in the English pyramid would not be able to qualify for Europe, and all parties involved what to sort out this issue before any plans of Welsh Cup returns are discussed. The matter will be raised by Professor Thompson at an English FA meeting this September.

The story of why City stopped competing in the Welsh Cup is a long and involved one. The formation of the League of Wales in 1992 started discussions that the exile clubs should be banished from the competition unless they joined the national league, and three seasons later participation from English pyramid clubs was blocked with the last final with all Welsh clubs allowed to compete being at the end of the 1994/1995 season, with Wrexham beating the Bluebirds at the National Stadium.

The thought of mouth-watering derbies with the Jacks and other Welsh clubs in Cup action again will please many fans, and some supporters would be delighted to see a return to the Welsh Cup even if there was a block on European access to the 'exile' clubs. Meanwhile, the future of the much-criticized FAW Premier Cup is again in question, with Wrexham once again lifting the crown and a £100,000 cheque with a 4-1 victory over Rhyl at Belle Vue last month.