Airbus UK will face certain relegation from the Dafabet Welsh Premier League this weekend if they lose at fellow relegation candidates Rhyl on Saturday.
With three games remaining, Airbus (21 points) are seven points off safety and their 12-year stay in the top-flight is in grave danger.
A month ago the Wingmakers looked completely out of the survival race altogether but a victory over Aberystwyth and draws against Cefn Druids and Llandudno have given Andy Thomas’ side renewed hope.
Rhyl (26 points) and Aberystwyth Town (28) remain very much in the relegation picture in tenth and eleventh places respectively, but it is Airbus who’re cut adrift at the bottom of the table and have no more second chances. To have a realistic chance of survival Airbus need to win all three of their remaining games and hope results elsewhere fall in their favour.
In previous seasons, clubs have been able to escape relegation from the Welsh Premier despite finishing in the bottom two, with either clubs above them or clubs from the two feeder leagues failing to secure FAW Domestic Licences.
That will not be the case this year however as all 12 WPL clubs were successfully awarded licences for 2017/18 as well as already-confirmed Cymru Alliance champions Prestatyn Town and current Welsh League Division One leaders Barry Town.
The confirmation of Prestatyn Town’s promotion signals a remarkable turnaround for the club who, just six months ago, faced a fight to remain in existence as a winding up order following a HMRC dispute.
Fallen giants Barry Town can also complete their return to the WPL by securing a top-two finish in the Welsh League. Nine points from their remaining five games would see the four-time WPL champions end their painful 13-year absence from the Welsh top-flight.
Dotting the i’s and crossing the t’s – what can happen in the WPL this weekend
Connah’s Quay will guarantee they finish at least third and guarantee automatic European spot if they beat TNS OR if Bangor fail to beat Cardiff Met on Sunday.
Newtown will clinch 7th place and a Play-Off spot if they win against Cefn Druids and Llandudno lose to Aberystwyth.
Airbus UK will officially be relegated if they lose to Rhyl.
Weekend Dafabet Welsh Premier League fixtures:
TNS v Connah’s Quay (Fri), Bala Town v Carmarthen Town (Sat), Newtown v Cefn Druids (Sat), Rhyl v Airbus (Sat), Llandudno v Aberystwyth Town (Live TV game, Sat), Cardiff Met v Bangor City (Sun).
Featured image courtesy of Matt Jones/Andrew Lincoln/Airbus UK FC/Welsh Premier League
