By Matthew Burgess
New Welsh champions Connah’s Quay could be given a fast route through the Champions League qualifiers with ties cut from two legs to just one.
The same goes for Wales’ Europa League representatives this summer – The New Saints, Bala Town and Barry Town – with their ties also set to be reduced to one single game.
According to a report in appearing in Irish newspaper The Independent, plans for the qualifying rounds of next season’s European competitions are expected to be ratified today by UEFA’s executive committee.
It claims the first three qualifying rounds in the Champions League and Europa League will be decided over just one leg, with home advantage being determined by the draw.
Another significant change is the proposed scheduling of these games which has been put back to mid-August.
The week commencing August 17 has been identified as a possible start date for the competitions, which usually begin in late- June, with the competition draws taking place on August 9 and August 10.
It is understood that UEFA will loosen their geographical restrictions for the ties and provide possible compensation for clubs who are drawn away.
With the 2019/20 UEFA Champions League expected to be concluded, it is believed that prize money for next season’s competition will be unaffected.
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Meanwhile, Barry have signed former Cardiff City and Newport County striker Nat Jarvis for next season’s Cymru Premier campaign.
The 28-year-old, who has won eight caps for Antigua and Barbuda, has spent the last two seasons at National League South side Chippenham Town but has now been signed by Barry boss Gavin Chesterfield.
The Cardiff-born striker made three senior appearances for the Bluebirds, scoring two goals back in 2011.
“It’s a fresh challenge for me, which me and manager Gavin Chesterfield talked about a lot,” said Jarvis.
“There’s the chance to play in Europe too, which I’ve never done before. It’s a stone’s throw away from my house, so it will also be great to be playing closer to home also.”
