The Western Mail report that the plug will be pulled on the FAW Premier Cup this week

Eleven years after it was formed - the Swans have been successful on two occasions - it seems certain to be consigned to the history books this week unless someone can come up with a rescue package with a sponsorship deal reported to need to be around the £360,000 mark.

The competition has never taken off in the way that it could have done - the lack of a European place for the winners dictated that the three league clubs would treat it like a reserves competition much of the time through it's history.  And back in the early days those league clubs had to play six games just to get through a group stage that in fairness they couldn't fail to get through.  (almost)

The format changed and the three clubs plus the LOW champions were given byes into the quarter finals but, maybe moreso over recent years, the Welsh League sides have prevailed as Dave Jones first and latterly Roberto Martinez have elected to rest many, if not all, of their first team players for the competition.  And whilst the money was gratefully received for those that got it the lure of a European Place just wasn't there and it was never given the same credit as the Welsh Cup was.

The Western Mail had the following to say today about the competition Current backers BBC Wales have done their best to trumpet the competition during its 11-year history. But the reality is that, in the eyes of the majority of the Welsh public, the Premier Cup never matched up to its name tag.

On the contrary, far from being premier, too often it has been perceived as second rate.

And that is a shame, because in theory this is a cup competition that has done an awful lot of good for Welsh football.

Most significantly, it brought our game back together again after the huge divides that were created at the start of the1990s when the League of Wales was set up.

The paper have also suggested that it is time for the FAW to back down and invite the three football league clubs - and the 'exiles' into a revamped Welsh Cup which would carry the European place that is denied those teams and therefore inject new life into a competition that sadly needs it.  And with that incentive then surely the clubs would play with stronger sides which in turn attracts sponsors in.  Because, frankly, who can blame sponsors for not wanting to be associated with a competition that very few take seriously.  Least of all, Wales football league clubs.

The FAW Premier Cup 1997-2008.

Photo: Action Images

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