Call for Mid Wales ‘super’ league

One of the area’s longest serving managers is calling for a Mid Wales feeder league that would promote its champions straight into the top flight of Welsh football.

Llansantffraid Village manager Ray Jones believes the Welsh pyramid system should be fine tuned further to allow local clubs to avoid the logistically expensive Huws Gray Alliance en route to the promised land of the Welsh Premier.

This summer saw the Welsh Premier reduced to 12 clubs, blowing winds of change throughout Welsh football with virtually every Saturday league affected. In Mid Wales, clubs like Technogroup Welshpool and Berriew were relegated down a notch and the Spar League added an extra division, wreaking havoc on the Amateur Leagues below.

And the extra impetus placed on the Spar League has prompted Jones to call for more focus to be placed on this region.

“We had over 200 people watching us against Llanrhaeadr in a good old local derby on Saturday,” said Jones, whose side lost 1-0 to the league leaders. “Do you think we would get crowds like that if we stepped up a league and played the likes of Holyhead or Denbigh instead?

“I am all for clubs looking to play a higher standard of football, but if we did win this league in the next couple of seasons and had the chance, the decision to go up wouldn’t be that simple.

“There are huge costs involved with the Alliance. A bus will cost £450 for a Saturday away game and a lot of the players just don’t like the travelling. A strong Mid Wales feeder league with all the best teams would be fantastic for local football.

“I would honestly like to see feeder leagues to the Welsh Premier from North, South and Mid Wales. The competition would be excellent; there would be a derby a week creating huge interest in local football. The decision to go up – should the club comply with criteria – should then be in the hands of the club.”

Jones is in his 21st year of management having also taken the helm at Guilsfield before returning to his home village club.

“I am sure some clubs would like to step up but there are also a lot of others that would have to think long and hard about it when they consider the added expense incurred. I admire clubs like Guilsfield that have established themselves in the Alliance. I would just like to see all the bigger and better clubs playing in a really competitive Mid Wales League with the added incentive of promotion into top flight.”