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Another blow for FAW as Merthyr Town reject offer to quit English pyramid for Cymru Premier

Another blow for FAW as Merthyr Town have decided to reject an offer to quit the English pyramid for the Cymru Premier.

Merthyr decide to remain in the English non league system, instead of joining the top tier of Welsh football, amid FAW’s plans to expand to 16 teams by 2026-27.

The proposals were in the hope of seriously enhancing competitiveness and includes significant investment in league infrastructure.

The club, owned by supporters, saw 96% of them vote against joining the Welsh Premier, just days after the FA and EFL put a stop to plans that would have seen Cardiff, Swansea, Wrexham and Newport play in the Welsh League Cup, with the winners of the competition getting a place in the UEFA Conference League.

Merthyr are hoping of winning promotion to the sixth tier, boosted by a 2-0 win over Taunton, seeing them go 8 points clear at the top of the Southern League – Premier South, 63 points from 27 games played, 75 scored, 28 conceded.

“Merthyr might not have been at the top echelons of this pyramid for a long period of time but it’s the hope that one day they could be,” manager Paul Michael said prior to the club’s announcement, per BBC Sport.

“I think the FAW are doing the right thing in trying to improve the domestic game and we’re Welsh football supporters and we want to see that league grow and we want to see it do very well.

“But the onus and the people invested in this club are in it because of the pyramid that it’s in and I understand their views and their rights.”

FAW offer Merthyr Town up to £6M to quit English pyramid for Cymru Premier as part of revamp

“It does feel like the whole town is behind us,” Michael told BBC Radio Wales Sport, before the game.

“People are starting to take an interest from the wider football community of south Wales.

“We’ve has some fantastic crowds but it does really feel like the whole community is behind you here.

“And that’s making it a really special place to be at the moment.”

The Welsh football governing body sent a letter to Merthyr owners where they outlined:

– Compensation Merthyr would get for leaving the English system and incentives for joining the Cymru Premier

– Would commit £2m towards improving the infrastructure of Merthyr’s Penydarren Park

– To double that amount to £4m by securing match funding from government bodies and local authorities

– FAW says would guarantee Merthyr an annual payment of £250,000 over five years for competing in the Cymru Premier, plus an additional £30,000 for the 2026-27 season for any drop in attendances

– £25,000 put towards Merthyr’s 4G pitch fund, up to £40,000 for the installation of a new television gantry

– A total financial package worth £5.95m

The FA release statement on rejecting attempt by Welsh EFL clubs to enter Welsh League Cup

Twitter users reacted to another blow for FAW as Merthyr Town reject an offer to quit English pyramid for the Cymru Premier…

@Orch06: Now FAW can concentrate on grassroots teams who actually play in the Welsh leagues

@Cianevans280702: Give the £6m to an actual welsh club now @FAWales

@GMBurns: Easy decision- now the FAW can leave this be

@RhysJon42441221: Good, merthyr should never have been asked in the first place, they have their English dream and should be free to follow it.

@mattmartyr: 96% said no. Fantastic day for @MerthyrTownFC 👌

@RussWWFC:
If I was in charge I’d do both.
MERTHYR TOWN in English system
MERTHYR TYDFIL in Welsh system
No reason why not, a great place to visit and a 3G pitch so it could handle both.
People don’t think outside the box

@eddsirr: The £6m is obscene given the state of some clubs at the bottom of the Cymru Prem. it’s such a mess of a league now.

@IanParfitt: No surprise there….the timing of this was all wrong but the @FAWales will say they’ve at least tried to make changes even though this, like the League Cup proposal was always destined to fail.

@PEBradbury: Pretty poor week for the FAW. One which was wholly predictable to anyone of us with any knowledge of Welsh Club Football and the politics within it. But this shouldn’t disguise the fact that a lot of good change has been instituted by the FAW. Time to improve the Cymru S/N sides

@CallumHallett6: 👏👏👏 Why would they accept this?! The FAW leagues are an absolute mess, Merthyr are absolutely flying in Step 3, soon to be in Step 2. Fair play.

@TheWelshDragon9: When the FAW announced the league changes for 26/27, one of the first questions they got asked by the media was about Merthyr. The FAW obviously expected this outcome, but were right to make it official. It now ends the conversion. Pob lwc to Merthyr 👍

@James_McE1: I presume that 6 million will be put to good use helping all the welsh clubs in the actual welsh league then? Right?? 🤦🏼‍♂️

@The94thMin: An unsurprising decision from Merthyr after a bonkers fortnight in Welsh football.

@CraigMallett9: Brilliant news good for them 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

@Dafydd_Nich: 96% Voted No. Up The Non-League Martyrs ⚫️⚪️

@Prosser009: And rightfully so!! Why would @MerthyrTownFC leave the good place they’re in to join a shambles of a system? No doubt that money will now get pumped in to the teams that don’t need it instead of used for teams that could use the support!

@muff5: So the ground breaking changes from the FAW have both failed 🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️

@john_mcal: No surprise. 96% voted no. Time for the FAW to just leave them to it. However if they don’t want FAW association then their youth teams and women’s sides should play in the English system too

@Fire_Hazard1: Just when you think Saturdays couldn’t get better 💪 The faw can now do one

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