Women’s club football in Wales is being re-shaped. But as well as abandoning the old structures, other things have been dumped by the Football Association of Wales, too – such as fairness, integrity and respect. Fraser Watson suggests a re-think. An elitist, power-fuelled proposal that threatens the very essence of league structure and competition. Six weeks ago, such a theory was being directed, with no shortage of venom attached, towards the 12 clubs assigned to the soon to be defunct European Super League.

By Gareth James Connah’s Quay Nomads fans and supporters of The New Saints will be able to see their title shoot-out unfold on screen this weekend – in simultaneous separate matches. As the race for the JD Cymru Premier title goes down to the final day of the season on Saturday, S4C’s Sgorio programme is […]

History shows The New Saints don’t take kindly to losing and Caernarfon Town had better brace themselves for a backlash when they visit Park Hall tonight in the JD Cymru Premier. Last weekend’s 4-1 home reverse to title rivals Connah’s Quay Nomads allowed the reigning champions to return to the top of the table. The two teams will meet again in Deeside on Saturday night. In the meantime, TNS boss Anthony Limbrick will be looking for a reaction from his players similar to the one that came after their other defeat this year, at Haverfordwest County.

The New Saints are considering appointing Chris Coleman as their next manager, Dai Sport understands. The former Wales manager – who led his country to the semi-finals of Euro 2016 – has emerged has a shock candidate to replace Scott Ruscoe, who left the club earlier this month. Coleman is understood to be interested in The New Saints vacancy, in what would be his first role back in football since leaving China in May 2019.

Scott Ruscoe admitted The New Saints had been “professional, rather than inspiring” as they kept their comfortable gap at the top of the JD Cymru Premier League. The Saints manager knew his side weren’t going to get an easy ride at Cardiff Met at the weekend and so it proved as they struggled to bag a 1-0 win to move six points clear at the top. “I hadn’t won here for a few years, so it was nice to get a win against a team that sets up well and can frustrate you,” said Ruscoe.

Blaine Hudson believes the way in which The New Saints hit back to beat Haverfordwest County in the JD Cymru Premier League will have knocked the stuffing out of their major title rivals. The Pembrokeshire side headed north looking for another upset following their 1-0 triumph at Bala Town and twice took the lead at Park Hall against an unbeaten TNS team. It took a cruel own goal in injury time to crush their dreams.

Scott Ruscoe admits he will have a job on his hands to lift his players’ spirits for their return to domestic action after The New Saints’ European dream died in the Faroe Islands on Wednesday night. After going ahead in the penalty shoot-out against Faroese side B36 Torshavn, the former Welsh champions lost 5-4, having been held to a 2-2 draw after extra-time in their Europa League second qualifying round tie. “Penalties are always a bit of a lottery, so it does feel a cruel way to go out,” said Saints manager Ruscoe.

The New Saints will be hoping to make it a hat-trick of wins over Faroe Islands side B36 Torshavn on Wednesday night as they seek to reach the third qualifying round of the Europa League. The Oswestry-based side did the double in 2015 when the two teams met for the first time, triumphing 2-1 away and then 4-1 at home. If they can make it a hat-trick of wins in this one-off tie then they will meet either the Bulgarian side CSKA Sofia or the Belarusians club BATE, who meet on Thursday.

By Matthew Burgess The Welsh clubs left in the early stages of European competition may not have bagged the main prize but there is still much to look forward to in the next round of the Europa League. Yesterday’s draw groupings made sure that a Welsh club weren’t going to be able to get a […]

UEFA have whittled down the number of potential opponents Welsh clubs could face in today’s Europa League second qualifying round draw. Connah’s Quay, The New Saints and Bala Town will all feature in the draw which will be held at midday today and streamed live online via UEFA.com.

Welsh football is celebrating a rare double success after both The New Saints and Bala achieved victories in the Europa League on Thursday night. The Saints beat MSK Zilina of Slovakia 3-1, whilst Bala Town won 1-0 in Malta against Valletta. Matthew Burgess assesses the significance of both results as the clubs now prepare for the second qualifying round. The power of football never ceases to amaze and, true enough, one of the leading topics trending on Twitter last night was ‘Bala’. A couple of hours earlier, Bala Town had finally broken their European hoodoo, advancing to the second qualifying round for the first time.

The draws have been made, the maps have been checked, and now Welsh football clubs are preparing for their summer stint in the sun. Matthew Burgess says the cards – as usual – are not stacked in the Welsh clubs’ favour, but one-game shoot-outs might yet enable the likes of Connah’s Quay and Barry Town United to make their mark. Anticipating how Welsh clubs will fare in European competitions is generally a difficult summer task at the best times, yet the ongoing impact of the coronavirus on Welsh football only serves to muddy the waters further. In football’s new normal, all qualifying rounds are to be decided over one game and ties could be hosted at neutral venues – or determined without a ball even being played – should Covid restrictions dictate.