EFL clubs in discussion about entering Welsh League Cup

The 4 Wales based English Football League (EFL) clubs are in talks about a “transfor­ma­tional” change which would see them enter a Welsh cup competition in order to qualify for European football.

Cardiff City, Swansea City, Wrexham and Newport County play in the English pyramid and are therefore only able to qualify for European competitions via the Premier League, FA Cup or EFL Cup.

But the four clubs have held discussions with the Football Association of Wales (FAW) about entering the Welsh League Cup - currently known as the Nathaniel MG Cup - for a chance to represent Wales in the Europa Conference League.

Although the clubs would continue to play league football in England, this move would mean sacrificing their ability to qualify for Europe via English competitions, as Swansea did when they played in the Europa League after winning the EFL Cup in 2013.

The four clubs and the FAW have already presented their vision – Prosiect Cymru, Welsh for Project Wales – to UEFA, the Football Association, Premier League and clubs in the Cymru Premier, Wales’ domestic top flight.

Central to those presentations has been an extensive independent report into the venture by Deloitte, which was commissioned by Swansea on behalf of the four EFL clubs and the FAW.

In the report seen by BBC Sport Wales, it is suggested Prosiect Cymru would “drive improvement for the whole Welsh football ecosystem” and that “financial gains will be re-distributed in a manner that lifts grassroots, domestic Welsh clubs and the women’s game”.