‘Prosiect Cymru’ In Motion And FA Cup Third Round: Welsh Football Weekend Round-Up



Rhodri Evans

Good morning readers! ‘Prosiect Cymru’ is in motion. What is Prosiect Cymru I hear you ask? Well, you’ll just have to read on to find out…

We have all the info on that and the weekend’s FA Cup Third Round action below:

Welsh League Cup Reforms

‘Prosiect Cymru’ is the FAW’s plan to introduce the Welsh EFL clubs (Cardiff, Swansea, Wrexham, and Newport) into the Welsh League Cup, opening an avenue for those clubs to potentially qualify to European competitions as Welsh representatives.

Previously, when Welsh EFL clubs had qualified for Europe – like Swansea in 2014 after winning the English League Cup – their progress counted towards the English coefficient, therefore giving no benefit to Welsh football beyond the individual club.

Now, in a move dubbed ‘Prosiect Cymru’ by the FAW, the four clubs would continue to play league and cup football in England, but sacrifice their ability to qualify for Europe via English competitions.

The Welsh League Cup will now become a four-round, 16 team competition comprising the 12 JD Cymru Premier sides, and the four EFL clubs.

The ‘Prosiect Cymru’ proposal already has unanimous backing from the Cymru Premier clubs, the FAW say.

‘This will be a gamechanger for Welsh football’

It is felt by the FAW that Wales have an ‘unnaturally low’ European coefficient ranking because it’s four biggest clubs are effectively shut out of European football each season. It is hoped that ‘Prosiect Cymru’ will remedy this, as well as potentially generating £3million per season from European revenue.

Part of the plan is for the four EFL clubs to agree to a revenue sharing model, benefiting the FAW and the Cymru Premier clubs.

FAW Chief Executive Noel Mooney has hailed ‘Prosiect Cymru’ as a ‘gamechanger.’

“This will be a gamechanger for the development of the game as we work to unlock the full potential of Welsh football,” said Mooney

“It will unite Welsh football, improve the game at all levels, and deliver meaningful societal benefits across Wales making our clubs and communities more sustainable.

“It will generate significant additional revenue through a revamped Welsh League Cup competition with expanded participation of the four highest ranked Welsh clubs that participate in the English football pyramid. This will be distributed throughout the JD Cymru Premier, Genero Adran Premier and grassroots facilities across the country.

“It also represents the spirit of collaboration and cooperation among football associations across the United Kingdom ahead of the home nations’ joint co-hosting EURO 2028.”

Ashford Strike Stuns Blades

Cian Ashford’s first half goal earnt Cardiff a place in the Fourth Round of the FA Cup, as the visitors upset the Championship form book to beat high flyers Sheffield United 1-0.

Ashford, a 20-year-old academy graduate, pounced on the dithering Rhys Norrington-Davies and raced into the penalty area to slot the ball past Adam Davies in the Blades net. There was a certain irony in a current Wales U21 international beating two recent members of the senior Wales squad to score.

“Ash is excellent. He listens, he learns, he wants to do well,” Cardiff manager Omer Riza said.

“He gets disappointed at times, which is good but bad at times as well because he lets it get to his performance. I’ve said from the start of the season, Cian has got a lot of potential. We all believe in him – he needs to believe in himself more. I’m delighted for him.”

Joe Ralls, celebrating his 400th appearance for Cardiff, was similarly impressed.

“He’s been brilliant for us, really stepped up. He had a little spell out of the team, he’s worked on his game and he’s come back with a point to prove,” Ralls added.

“That’s the real Cian Ashford and he’s kicking on now. That was a really well taken goal.”

Cardiff will travel to fellow Championship strugglers Stoke City in the Fourth Round.

09.01.25 – Sheffield United v Cardiff City – FA Cup Third Round – Cian Ashford scores a goal to put Cardiff 1-0 up

Southampton Swat Aside Underpowered Swansea

Teenage starlet Tyler Dibbling scored a brace as Premier League bottom side Southampton avoided an FA Cup upset, beating Swansea 3-0 at St Mary’s.

With first choice centre half pair Harry Darling and Ben Cabango both out – and now doubts for the South Wales derby – Swansea struggled to contain the home side, conceding twice before halftime.

Manager Luke Williams said that his side were ‘outclassed’ by Southampton, but said he could not be ‘overly critical,’ of his players.

“It was disappointing because we were very sloppy and against talented opposition you get punished,” he said.

“They were too much for us. We came up against a better team and we were outclassed. “Does it show the difference between Premier League and Championship? That team can’t win a game in the Premier League. They were an incredible team in the Championship.

“We wanted to be more competitive than we were. But if we were able to come here and batter Southampton we’d be in the Premier League ourselves.”

Prosiect Cymru
12.01.25 – Southampton v Swansea City – FA Cup Third Round – Liam Cullen of Swansea City takes a free kick

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