Cardiff City news 26/01/01

Fri 26th Jan 2001 - FAW to help Sam's Euro bid

David Collins, FAW Secretary General, announced on Thursday afternoon that the FAW would investigate all options on behalf of Sam Hammam to get Cardiff City back into Europe.

After initial enquiries with the Football League and with Uefa it seemed apparant that unless Sam had the support for the FAW then no progress could be made. Today the news was good and talks will be opened between all parties to see if a solution can be found so that Cardiff, Swansea and Wrexham can again acheive entry into European football. The 3 welsh clubs are the only three professional teams in Europe that cannot win entry into the Champions League or Uefa Cup. Now thats changing, while is not a done deal there is a willingness to help from the authorities. Rules will have to be changed but its a start.

Early reports suggest that Cardiff will buy LoW club Cwmbran Town and re name it Cardiff City. Then if the LoW team wins the LoW then entry into the Champions League could happen. There are many questions that need to be asked and answers that need to be found, most obvious is the eligability question. Cardiff woud like to have a squad of players who could compete in both leagues. But can that happen. Well with Sam anything can happen and now the FAW have done the right thing and offered to help Sam and investigate the situation.

Report from BBC Wales Online.
The Football Association of Wales is to consult with Uefa, European football's governing body, before deciding whether to allow Cardiff City to buy their way into the League of Wales.

Cardiff owner Sam Hammam is considering whether to make a bid for a current League of Wales side to find a way into European competition.

Neither Cardiff, Wrexham nor Swansea can represent Wales in any Uefa tournament because they play professionally in the English league.

However, Hammam believes that if he buys a League of Wales club and plays Cardiff's fringe players under its banner, it would open a door that had apparently been slammed shut by Uefa.

Hammam presented his case to the FAW on Thursday and their council will now take the matter to the European body.

"The council discussed all the aspects raised and decided unanimously to open dialogue with all the parties concerned - the League of Wales, Uefa, the Football Association and the Football League," said FAW secretary-general David Collins.

"This dialogue will begin as soon as possible and we shall be asking all four parties to comment and ask them if they believe it would be possible to raise the standard of the League of Wales in this way.

"There are a number of obstacles. The League of Wales would have to change its rules and Uefa would have to agree to accept the FAW's nomination of Cardiff City - or Swansea or Wrexham, as our representatives in European tournaments.

"But the game is changing all the time. This not a green light for Mr Hammam but we are prepared to see what we can do."

Reaction from League of Wales clubs to the FAW response was mixed.

Carmarthen manager Tomi Morgan accused the FAW of "passing the buck" to appease Sam Hammam.

Morgan was also concerned the financial lure of Europe would be denied to League of Wales sides should Cardiff play in the competition.

""To take away the only carrot in front of us is very unfair," he said.

"Cardiff City should not be given the financial rewards of the Nationwide League and then come into the League of Wales and take that too," he added.

Newtown chairman Keith Harding believed the LoW sides should have been consulted sooner and could not envisage a rule change to allow Cardiff to take part.

"But I would be the first in the queue to welcome them with both hands," he said, despite reservations about European qualification for the league's current sides.

Report from SkySports.
"Sam Hammam is hoping that he can buy Cardiff a place in European competition. Bluebirds owner Sam Hammam is considering whether to make a bid for a current League of Wales side to find a way round the problem of his club not being allowed to compete in European competition.

At present, Cardiff, Wrexham and Swansea are unable to represent Wales in any UEFAtournament as they play professionally in the England.

However, Hammam believes that if he buys an LoW club and plays Cardiff's fringe players, that would enable him to bypass the UEFA laws.

Hammam presented his case to the FAW today and their council will now take the matter to Europe.

FAW secretary-general David Collins said: "The council then discussed all the aspects raised and decided unanimously to open dialogue with all the parties concerned - the League of Wales, Uefa, the Football Association and the Football League.

"There are a number of obstacles. The League of Wales would have to change its rules and UEFA would have to agree to accept the FAW's nomination of Cardiff City - or Swansea or Wrexham, as our representatives in European tournaments.

"But the game is changing all the time. This not a green light for Mr Hammam but we are prepared to see what we can do."