City’s owner wants the Bluebirds to play in the Nationwide League AND the League of Wales.

The proposal was put before last week’s meeting of the League of Wales Board after Hammam had met Welsh FA president Des Shanklin, match committee chairman Phil Pritchard and secretary-general David Collins.

A special full council meeting has been called for Thursday week to discuss an issue which will divide FAW members.

Some want City back in Europe, and are expecting Swansea City and Wrexham to follow suit.

Others, notably Alun Evans, the League of Wales representative on the Welsh FA, are strongly opposed, on the grounds that it could cost current League of Wales clubs three places in Europe.

Even if the controversial plan is given the go-ahead by the Welsh FA, fundamental flaws would almost certainly prevent it being implemented.

Hammam’s intention is to buy a League of Wales club, change its name to Cardiff City for which City players not on Nationwide League duty would play.

In other words, City would put out two teams on a Saturday afternoon, Hammam contending they would all be members of the same squad. But present Football League and Uefa rules do not allow a club to have teams in two national leagues.

Rick Wright, a former City owner, failed in a previous attempt to enter a City side, to be known as Cardiff Majestic, in the League of Wales.

And City’s bid to enter a reserve side in the League of Wales was un-successful last year. Existing rules prohibit two teams with the same name competing in Wales or play-ers being contracted to two clubs at the same time.

Hammam claims a prominent League of Wales club has already agreed to sell out to him if the scheme is approved. Barry Town and Cwmbran Town would seem the most likely candidates.

But present League of Wales leaders Barry, which was put up for sale two years ago, is already on course for a place in the Champions’ League and has a provisional agreement with Coventry City to borrow Premiership stars for the competition.

Carmarthen Town is another club linked with a City takeover but this was last night denied by Jeff Thomas, the club’s chairman.

“Cardiff City has formed a rene-gade centre of excellence in Carmarthen and recruited people who had pledged to be involved in the running of the youth development centre we will soon be forming with official FAW Trust status,” he said.