The second Welsh Premier League play-off final takes place at Stebonheath on Saturday as Llanelli take on Bala Town with home advantage over their North Wales rivals. The prize for the winners is significant in terms of both pounds and profile as the match will decide which of the two clubs will claim the last UEFA Europa League place and the financial prize that accompanies such success. The two clubs are deserved finalists, both clubs finished in the top six and each boast a talented squad of players equal to their final league placings. The European prize on offer this weekend however has a very different meaning for both clubs, and victory for one could be as significant as defeat for the other, such is the fragile financial nature of Welsh Premier League clubs.

Llanelli are no strangers to the European stage. Substantial backing arrived at Stebonheath in 2005 and the club have competed in Europe in each of the last five seasons, including a UEFA Champions League debut in 2008 after the side claimed the Welsh Premier League title. The reduction of the league to twelve clubs has made qualification a more difficult proposition however, and after reaching Europe via the Welsh Cup last season, the club are now having to endure the lottery of Saturday’s play-off match to make it a busy summer for the sixth-season in a row. The regular financial prize has enabled Llanelli to invest in their playing squad over the last few years and the club have enjoyed famous victories over established clubs such as Motherwell and Dinamo Tbilisi amongst others along the way.

For Bala Town it is a very different story, and a victory over Llanelli on Saturday would see the club qualify for European competition for the first time in their history. Promoted to the Welsh Premier League as recently as 2009, the Maes Tegid side only avoided relegation in their first two seasons due to other clubs failure to meet the domestic licensing criteria, but after a summer of investment, the club have matched their work off the field with notable improvements on it and manager Colin Caton has been backed to assemble a squad of experienced players. The reward has put the side within one match of European qualification, and while a top six finish would have been expected after the club signed around a dozen new players, the way Caton and his staff have developed his quickly-assembled side has been an equally important part of the process.

In comparison Llanelli have developed from their initial success in 2006 with the same tried and trusted core of players and some annual fine-tuning. Players such as Stuart Jones, Rhys Griffiths, Antonio Corbisiero and the returning Craig Williams all played for the club in their first European campaign, and Griffiths now has the best goals per game ratio of any Welsh Premier League player in European competition. No stranger to claiming goalscoring records, seven-time golden boot winner Griffiths is also the only player ever to score a hat-trick in Europe with a Welsh Premier League club, and Llanelli remain in unreserved gratitude to the striker for what the club have achieved on both the domestic and European stage since his arrival. The hunger remains strong despite the regularity of European football at Llanelli, and despite the fact that their success remains lost on the clubs local community, but home advantage on Saturday will be seen as a big positive in this crucial match.

Bala Town have enough big-stage experience in their squad to warrant a decent chance of upsetting Llanelli on Saturday however, but it is experience that is lost with manager Colin Caton, and with the club itself. While Llanelli’s European campaigns have been overseen by high-profile figures such as former boss Peter Nicholas and current manager Andy Legg, Caton has spent his managerial career taking Bala Town from the North Wales feeder leagues and into the domestic top flight since he took charge back in 2003. The club have only three years experience in the Welsh Premier League, and other than Saturday’s match, their only other big-stage experience has been in two Welsh Cup semi-final defeats. The prize on Saturday is far bigger than the occasion, but it is the significance of it for both clubs that makes the eventual result more all-the-more interesting.

It has become the accepted football financial norm in recent times to gamble on success. The majority of Welsh Premier League clubs remain dependant on a small group of benefactors or individuals to cover the escalating wages that their usual income streams fail to produce. As businesses feel the financial strain however, bankrolling football clubs has emerged as one of the first vices to be dropped by the rich, and the effects can be seen at every level of the game. While clubs at the top end of the Football League can withstand the effects of administration through the support and generosity of their fans, clubs at the lower end of pyramid and especially in the Welsh Premier League do not have this alternative means with which to survive. The demise of Neath has not come as a surprise, but should still act as a warning to those that speculate to possibly, but rarely, accumulate. The financial prize on offer for Llanelli or Bala Town this weekend stands at around £70,000 for the winners, and the potential for a lot more with the right European draw, but absolutely nothing for the losers.

While Bala Town invested heavily during the summer with a long-term plan at European qualification, Llanelli’s establishment on the European stage has made European football almost pre-requisite. As one of the leagues highest-profile clubs, Llanelli have continued to build upon their success each season, but a year without the European prize money that they have now become accustomed too will inevitable lead to a budgetary review. By comparison, Bala Town have made their intentions clear with summer-spending that has put them within a game of European qualification, but failure to clear the final hurdle this weekend is unlikely to derail their longer-term plans. The Welsh Premier League has become more competitive than ever, but with clubs being forced to increase spending only to sustain their current status, gambling on the carrot of the European prize could soon become the only viable revenue stream for some clubs as sponsors continue to reduce their support.

For all the financial permutations surrounding success and failure on Saturday however, the match promises to be a competitive one, and the quality of both squads combined with the fantastic playing surface at Stebonheath should make for a decent contest in front of the live S4/C camera’s. Llanelli reached the final with an extra-time goal from young striker Jordan Follows against Aberystwyth last Saturday, in a match that was anything but a classic, while Bala Town progressed at the expense of North Wales rivals Prestatyn Town. Last season Prestatyn were on the wrong end of the play-off final result as Neath claimed the last European place, despite the prize money however, out of the two clubs only Prestatyn had another chance at European glory this season. The financial warning signs for clubs are very recent and very real.

The final between Llanelli and Bala Town this weekend however is fit for purpose in what the Welsh Premier League planned with the league’s new in format. The alternative final would have been played between a Prestatyn Town side that had not claimed a win in the league since November against an Aberystwyth Town side that were in a relegation battle on the final day of the season. No club has been relegated on sporting merit this season, and with promotion and relegation largely paper-based through the domestic licensing criteria, there are genuine concerns over the long and short-term future of the league. On Saturday however, two of the league’s better sides will justify their respective investments by playing off for the last remaining European place, and it will be a welcome sporting way to end another season of off the field controversy.

The article was also published on the WalesOnline Magazine Sports Blog here – http://blogs.walesonline.co.uk/sport/2012/05/the-significance-of-welsh-prem.html

The Welsh national team has been a popular topic of discussion and debate over the last eighteen months, and another twist emerged last week, as the Football Association of Wales confirmed that Brian Flynn would not continue with his role as Intermediate team manager after his contract expired at the end of April. The initial reaction was one of surprise as much as it was disappointment, such is the respect commanded by the diminutive former Wrexham manager in the Welsh game, and replacing Flynn will now be another tough off the field decision for Chris Coleman to make since he took charge of the national team. High-standards have indeed been set by the man that saved Swansea City from relegation out of the Football League in 2003, and while many will understandably view the decision as an unnecessary and potentially dangerous change to the national team set-up, Flynn’s exit was ultimately inevitable despite the part he has played in the emergence of this new and exciting generation of Welsh football talent.

Flynn was brought into the system by John Toshack back in 2004 with a clear remit. Toshack had inherited an ageing team that were far too used to ruling the roost and the former Real Madrid manager arrived with a clear intention of developing a new generation for Wales. As the old-guard departed through both personal and professional reasons, Flynn was introducing talented Welsh teenagers to levels of football well above their years. Current senior players Chris Gunter and Gareth Bale made their Wales Under-21 debuts at the age of sixteen and this was a recurring trend throughout Toshack’s time in charge. Flynn was made responsible for the Under-17, the Under-19 and the Under-21 teams, and his control, together with Toshack’s belief in youth, enabled players to be fast-tracked through to the senior team. The system worked, and the proof is in the production of the current generation of players that have a wealth of International experience through their Welsh heritage, when compared against their club football peers.

Where the system failed for Toshack however was that his golden generation were now wise to a different era of football to their ageing coach. The old-school style of coaching and management failed to impress those spoilt by the modern-day riches of the Premier League, and despite being fast-tracked by Wales, the majority failed to produce at the business end of the national team chain. The introduction of the late Gary Speed brought the modern-day dimension to match-day preparations that had been missing with Toshack and his dated beliefs, and Speed was able to reap the benefits of his predecessor during his time in charge, before it was cut-short in heart-breaking circumstances. Speed had introduced change behind the scenes when he succeeded Toshack however, and the arrival of controversial Dutchman Raymond Verheijen together with FAW Technical Director Osian Roberts signalled the first indication that Flynn’s status in the management set-up would soon be reduced, especially as Flynn had made a strong case for the job before the appointment of Speed.

As a passionate Welshman however, Flynn rose above what had now become a familiar setback for him, and continued with his excellent work at Intermediate level. His remit of developing the best from a limited pool of players did not change and his name was often mentioned as players such as Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey became established stars on the International stage. Flynn had played a crucial part in their development but his role had become a reduced one, he was no longer part of the senior side, his place restricted to being the middle cog on the Welsh football conveyor-belt. While Toshack’s senior stars came up short however, Flynn had enjoyed the spotlight as his Under-21 side offered hope for the future with a strong of impressive results and performances, and the side earned some well-deserved media coverage. Once the senior team began to play to their potential under Gary Speed however, the focus quickly reverted to Speed and his revolutionary work, and Flynn returned back to his place in the system.

Brian Flynn was appointed, but more importantly, trusted, by John Toshack. The pair worked closely to bring through the current crop of players but the rewards appear to have emerged too late for either man to claim all the credit. The relative success of qualifying for a major tournament remains elusive and until it is achieved then Wales will remain in the shadow of their predecessors of 1958. Toshack often spoke of a long-term solution to the problems he inherited when he took charge, but the quick development and demands of his star players tested the patience of his employers, and he was unable to complete the job he started despite spending six-years at the helm. Flynn temporarily stepped-in during following Toshack’s mutual departure, and while those two disappointing games will still be his proudest career moment, they signalled the end of his own project even if it took another two-years before it was confirmed.

The arrival of Osian Roberts into the senior team set-up was the most significant for Flynn. Well-respected inside Welsh football but a little-known figure outside of it, Roberts emerged as the natural successor to the role occupied by the Intermediate manager. Through his work with the Welsh Football Trust and the FAW, the UEFA Pro-Licence holder and mentor brought a modern-day approach to the development of the game in Wales, and could offer another dimension to the traditional approach taking by Flynn. While Flynn had preferred the more traditional scouting methods, Roberts arrived with the potential of taking youth development in a new direction, much like Speed would eventually do with the set-up and players he inherited from John Toshack. Although Flynn remained a contracted part of Speed’s plans, Chris Coleman now has the task of continuing the work of his predecessor, and filling the role with the right candidate. Flynn has set a high-standard however and any successor to his post would be proud to bring through half of the talent that he has over the last eight-years. His departure does complete the closure of the John Toshack era however, and neither will enjoy the rewards that their generation game project will eventually, and inevitably, reap.

This blog was also featured in the official match programme of Wrexham FC for the Blue Square Premier play-off match against Luton Town on Monday, 7th May 2012.

The Welsh Premier League play-offs start next week when Airbus UK Broughton take on Aberystwyth Town at the Airfield on Bank Holiday Monday. Both sides head into the fixture just three wins away from a place in the UEFA Europa League, but progression for either side against their bottom six opponents will bring with it the tougher prospect of taking on former league champions Llanelli, before the final European place is decided against the winners of the other play-off semi-final between Bala Town and Prestatyn. For Llanelli and North Wales duo Bala and Prestatyn, their places in the play-offs were confirmed when the mid-season split was made, while Airbus UK were quietly confident having headed the bottom six group for most of the campaign. It was a very different story for Aberystwyth Town however, but having only avoided relegation a fortnight ago, the club are now focused on a very different ambition.

Under the guidance of Tomi Morgan since his appointment as manager in February, the club has lost just two Welsh Premier League fixtures, and confirmed their status with a run of three consecutive victories to complete their domestic campaign. The improvement in form and discipline since the reign of his predecessor Alan Morgan has been the catalyst for change at Park Avenue, and while the club have still under-achieved, the play-offs offer a surprise salvation when just a few weeks ago survival would have been seen as the best form of success for one of the Welsh Premier League’s most established of clubs. Tomi Morgan has returned to his home-town club for a second-spell in charge, and while he was a surprise choice, the turnaround of the clubs fortunes has justified his appointment, and the next three games could yet make this a memorable one for the famous old club.

Tomi Morgan arrived at Park Avenue to pick up the pieces left by his departing namesake Alan. With the club struggling to stay in the Welsh Premier League, Morgan was a surprise appointment for many, as, despite his Aberystwyth connections, his contribution to the league during the current season had been to turn Carmarthen Town into relegation candidates. Sacked by the Richmond Park club before Christmas, Carmarthen Town had failed to pick up a single point away from home by the time he was replaced by former Wales International Mark Aizlewood. Morgan’s stock had already fallen due to his recent failures at Porthmadog and Welshpool Town, and his miserable time on his return to Carmarthen Town suggested that his time as a Welsh Premier League manager may be coming to an end. His revival of Aberystwyth in the second half of the season however has restored some respect, but with a talented squad of players funded by an above-average budget, their survival has been no more than what many expected them to at least achieve.

While Tomi Morgan inherited a train-wreck of a team from Alan Morgan however, Aizlewood was put in a similar situation at Carmarthen Town, and he has not been afraid to say it. As one of the highest-profile figures in the Welsh Premier League, the former Leeds and Wales defender is also one of the most outspoken figures in the domestic top-flight. Like Aberystwyth, Carmarthen Town have also been in fine form since making a change in the dugout, and Aizlewood has inspired enough of a turnaround to make Carmarthen one of the in-form teams in the Welsh Premier League. Although their survival was only ensured through Neath’s failure to achieve the FAW domestic licence, their retained status is a deserved one, and the league is stronger for the presence of the Richmond Park club.

For all his improvements at Aberystwyth, comparing the form of Carmarthen Town under the guidance of Tomi Morgan, against the Carmarthen Town of Mark Aizlewood is like reflecting on two different clubs. Although he had the luxury of being able to make some intelligent January signings such veteran Julian Alsop, highly-rated midfielder Paul Fowler from Neath and talented Afan Lido striker Jonathan Hood, Aizlewood was under no illusions of why his club were in a relegation battle instead of pushing for a place in the play-offs. Every interview was used to criticise the former regime that he had inherited his side from, to the extent that his comments almost became a personal attack on his predecessor. Few were surprised to hear Aizlewood use his limited airtime to praise his players and himself, but when when relegation became a very real prospect, the criticism of the previous management continued to rage on.

“When I joined I was shocked by the statistics as we had scored fewer goals than any other side, had conceded more than any other club, and had won fewer games than any other club,” stated Aizlewood as he began to make on early impression at Richmond Park. “To date this has been an absolute magnificent effort from the players and, if the worst happens, it was the previous league games before my arrival that would be to blame. The players we brought into the club in January walked into a situation where the remaining players from the previous regime were very low on confidence and undoubtedly this has had an adverse effect on the new players. It has taken a little time to get everybody to attain the required fitness levels and general standards that are expected of footballers who get paid to play. This has been a difficult task at this stage of the season as this core fitness work should have been completed months ago. The players and officials of the club have been brilliant but sometimes old habits come back to haunt the players”. Ouch.

The comments were justified, but Aizlewood welcomed Tomi Morgan back to Richmond Park when the two sides met in March’s crucial league match. “Tomi will want to make his mark on his return,” said Aizlewood. “He has been a first class ambassador for the league both as player and a manager.” Aberystwyth eventually claimed a valuable victory but once the league fixtures were complete in April and Carmarthen became reliant on issues outside of their control to ensure their survival, the criticism returned. “The results and facts speak for themselves since the arrival of the new management team, as they do before our arrival, which was three wins from twenty-three games played and not one single point away from home, which is poor to say the least,” Aizlewood quipped after completing the season with a victory in an eventually irrelevant South Wales derby. “I was asked after yesterday’s win at Port Talbot where it has all gone wrong, to which I answered ‘nothing has gone wrong – for me 19 points from 10 games is brilliant’ – other people need to answer that question!”

While the focus now for Aizlewood and his management team of Neil Smothers and Kevin Morris is to re-group and re-build ahead of next season, put right the wrongs of his predecessor and move forward, Tomi Morgan has a very different remit. Aizlewood’s digs over what Morgan left him to work with at Richmond Park will have made little impression on the former striker and league veteran, and after finishing the season with three straight victories, another consecutive trio of wins will earn Aberystwyth a place in European competition and the riches that accompany it. The challenge will be difficult one, but certainly not as difficult as the challenge he took on upon his return to Park Avenue, and his success in guiding the club out of the relegation places will bring confidence to a side that had been their own worst enemies for the majority of the campaign though ill-discipline.

What Aizlewood and Morgan do share however is an interest in the Welsh Premier League. Both have used their positions to criticise the league and its governance in the past, but only through their genuine concern for its future. Both have experienced the highs and lows from what has been the league’s most competitive season in its twenty year history, and both are already planning ahead to make sure that their respective clubs learn from the mistakes of this season, next season. The paths of both managers will cross once again next season, but the chances of their fixtures being once again in a relegation battle are slim. Both will have initial ambitions of confirming a place in the play-offs, but for Morgan, it could even be for a European return if he can complete this amazing turnaround in fortunes for his club with another three victories this season. The twist of course is that Mark Aizlewood’s standards for Carmarthen Town next season may yet be based on the achievements of Tomi Morgan and Aberystwyth this season, and that would really cap a memorable year for the league veteran.

The article was also published on the WalesOnline Magazine Sports Blog here – http://blogs.walesonline.co.uk/sport/2012/05/aber-switch-from-relegation-co.html

Former Wales striker Dean Saunders started the 2011-2012 season with a very different plan for the campaign ahead, but his eventual aim would be the same. Saunders began the season as the manager of a debt-ridden non-league side on brink of collapse, but within weeks, he was one step away from the riches of the Premier League as he became a boss in the Championship. Both jobs differed in many ways but the escape remit of both clubs was a constant for Saunders despite the change in his career path. In fact, the escape ambition has been the only one Saunders as ever known since his managerial career began, but once again his season has ended in disappointment as Doncaster Rovers were relegated from the Championship a fortnight ago after four seasons in Premier League’s feeder division.

Relegation was not an option for Dean Saunders last summer however, although circumstances suggest that some Wrexham fans would have accepted relegation before a ball was kicked, purely due to the fact that it would mean their club had done enough to stay in business. On the field results were not a priority as fans fund-raised around the clock and Saunders used all of his diplomatic skills to keep his squad of players together at the Racecourse despite the uncertainty over their future. As Saunders prepared for his third full season with the club, the usual promotion expectancy was temporarily lost against the financial trials and tribulations that left the future of the club in the balance, but a professional approach enabled the negatives to inspire a unique team spirit and Wrexham started the season in fine form with six straight wins after an opening day draw by a club buoyed by survival.

Dean Saunders’ stock was also rising however and in October he took charge of Championship side Doncaster Rovers. While his ambition at Wrexham had been to ensure an escape from non-league football with promotion back to the Football League, the ambition at the Keepmoat Stadium was simply to retain the clubs Championship status. A club with a number of Welsh connections, Saunders was joined by his Wrexham number-two Brian Carey, and striker Andy Morrell was promoted to the role of player-manager at the Racecourse. Saunders became the latest in a line of former Welsh Internationals to play a part in the history of Doncaster Rovers, Brian Flynn being the most notable for his Wrexham connections, although Saunders is the clubs first Welsh manager.

History is just that however, and while swapping the Blue Square Premier for the Championship was a significant step-forward in Saunders’ managerial career, swapping a title-challenging promotion push for a relegation battle was not as attractive. A bizarre approach to transfer dealings through Glaswegian agent Willie McKay was introduced to cut some of Doncaster’s unsustainable debts and Saunders’ role at the club suddenly became to look a lot like the one he had left behind at Wrexham. Controversial figure El Hadji Diouf raised a few eyebrows when the former Liverpool and Bolton striker arrived at the Keepmoat Stadium via McKay, but he proved the doubters wrong with a number of committed performances for his new club, despite the unfamiliar level that the twice African Football of the Year now found himself competing at.

Back at the Racecourse meanwhile Andy Morrell was busy building on the foundations left behind by his predecessor, and having taken the job at short-notice with few pre-conceived managerial ideas, Morrell saw little need for change as he kept the winning formula. Despite the novelty of relative financial stability, Wrexham would eventually fall-short in their challenge for the title against big-spending Fleetwood Town, and the lack of funds that prevented Wrexham starting the season with enough strength-in-depth eventually took its toll. Promotion remains a very real ambition for the season however, and while the clubs return to the Football League will now depend on the lottery of the play-offs, their form against their promotion rivals offers every optimism that Wrexham still have everything to play for.

For Dean Saunders however the project is no longer his and he now faces a rebuilding plan of his own as he attempts to take Doncaster Rovers back to the Championship. His limited managerial experience is compensated by his playing career for club and country, while his rebuilding skills at Wrexham will put him in a good position for the task facing him in his latest position. His failure to keep Doncaster in the Championship has been mirrored through his short managerial career by his failure to take Wrexham back to the Football League, and while he may have started the current project at the Racecourse, it is Morrell who will reap the reward or suffer the failure at the end of the campaign. Both managers do have a rare advantage in the modern game however, in that their respective boards have every faith in them eventually realising their ambitions, and both deserve the opportunity to now see through what they have started.

Dean Saunders’ managerial career began the same season that Doncaster Rovers were promoted to the Championship, Andy Morrell’s career could yet start the same season Wrexham return to the Football League. Despite their relative inexperience in management the duo have already become established in handling the effects of financial unrest, and as more and more clubs feel the inevitable pinch, it appears that their grounding will put them in a strong position for the future. Transfers and new signings have been a rare luxury for both Saunders and Morrell this season, but while a lack of available investment has cost Doncaster Rovers, Wrexham remain committed to bringing a successful conclusion to their impressive season. Should this be the year that Wrexham return to the Football League, Andy Morrell will deserve the praise lavished on him, but he will also be the first to acknowledge the work of Dean Saunders in Wrexham achieving this success. And there is no doubt Saunders himself will be the man who will be at the front of the queue to dish out this praise for the man who realised the ambitions that were his own at the start of the campaign.

This blog was also featured in the official match programme of Wrexham FC for the Blue Square Premier match against Braintree Town on Saturday, 28th April 2012.

Swansea City have enjoyed a journey of incredible success over the last decade and there are plenty of signs that the club are now on the verge of making further steps forward on and off the field. With their Premier League status assured for next season, the club will be financially strengthened and in a position to consolidate their success, and can now make some notable summer-signings to build on what they already have. Many players have represented Swansea City over the last decade, both at the Vetch Field and at the Liberty Stadium, but on Saturday goalkeeper Dorus De Vries will make his long-awaited return to Swansea in a rare Premier League appearance, but it is one that the Wolves number-two would probably rather miss.

De Vries was an integral figure in Swansea City’s promotion to the Premier League last season, his second promotion with the club since he was brought from Dunfermline by Roberto Martinez in 2007. During his four-years at the club, De Vries became a firm fan-favourite, and his impressive clean-sheet return played a huge part in the club earning a place in the Championship play-offs. For De Vries however, the part he played in the clubs success was not suitably addressed in his contract offer, and he elected on the three-year stability presented to him by Wolverhampton Wanderers as his route to the Premier League. After a nervous summer of scouting and searching however, Michel Vorm emerged as his replacement ahead of the new season, and a string of fine performances soon made De Vries a distant memory.

As the dust settled after the euphoria of Swansea’s play-off success, being told that De Vries and his club would be relegated the following season would have quickly tarnished the celebrations. To those on the outside, De Vries had played a huge part in the clubs rise and had no reason to move with Premier League football now attained, but at the age of thirty the Dutchman was fully-aware that this could well be his last big contract. Swansea’s financial prudence again shone through as a relegation-clause was added in the terms offered, meaning that De Vries would suffer a pay-cut if Brendan Rodgers’ side lasted just one season in the Premier League, and the assurance of the three-year deal at Wolves appeared the more practical at his career stage while also still offering him the opportunity to play Premier League football.

On the 22nd April Wolves were relegated. The 2-0 defeat to Manchester City was significant for De Vries however because the match marked his Premier League debut. Understudy to Wales’ number-one Wayne Hennessey throughout the campaign, De Vries had been limited to a handful of cup appearances, and while he only conceded half as many goals against Manchester City as Michel Vorm did on his Premier League debut, the defeat had a far bigger impact on his club. Hennessey’s injury will keep him out for the remainder of the season and, with relegation confirmed, the Wolves dressing room will not be an inspiring place as Terry Connor’s side play out the rest of the campaign. On Saturday De Vries will make only his second Premier League appearance, but it will be at a ground he knows better than any other, and he will be subjected to his career mistake for the full ninety-minutes.

With Swansea City already starting their preparations for next season, it is plausible that there may even by some sympathy for De Vries at the Liberty Stadium on Saturday. Brendan Rodgers has spoken in the build-up to the match about the achievements De Vries played an important part in at the club and his contribution will not be forgotten by many of those in attendance. Swansea City have inherited a number of new fans, or ‘plastic fans’ to use the modern-day term, since their promotion to the Premier League, and while De Vries looks on at his own personal past and wonders what could have been from between the posts, he will also be reminded of his own questionable judgement by those behind him. In a few weeks De Vries will once again be a Championship player with just a handful of Premier League appearances on his career history, but more significantly, another player that Swansea City lost on their way to the top.

Last summer there were not many people who expected Swansea City to make the impression on the Premier League that they have. The surprise of their success has highlighted their style of play, and despite the occasional heavy defeat, they have overly-compensated with shock victories over some of the Premier League’s giants. De Vries was clearly one of those who did not believe such a reality could be possible with the clubs limited spending and decided to look after his own financial future while making what he believed to be an educated football choice. Kept out of the side by Wayne Hennessey, De Vries has spent an important season in his career playing second-fiddle to an established International keeper, and will now return to the league he performed so well to get out of the season before last.

The De Vries story may be notable now, but with Premier League football confirmed for another season, Brendan Rodgers now has the collateral to make some significant changes to his squad and there will be a number of players who will not be celebrating Swansea City’s success as much as others. Although his team have performed to an incredible standard, the avoidance of second-season syndrome will be a crucial remit in Rodgers’ summer-spending plans, and like De Vries, a few more fan-favourites could be making a return to the Championship sooner than they may have expected. De Vries may have made a professional mistake on the face of it, but his Premier League wages are now assured for a further two-years, even though Premier League football is not. With the purse strings loosened however, there could be a few Swansea City players this summer wishing they had taken the De Vries option, as a few more will soon be added to the list of former players who once played their part in the clubs rise.

The article was also published on the WalesOnline Magazine Sports Blog here – http://blogs.walesonline.co.uk/sport/2012/04/no-belief-the-basis-of-de-vrie.html

Mark Hudson grabbed the headlines for Cardiff City on Tuesday night as his obscenely brilliant 68-yard strike completed the scoring in the 2-0 win over Derby County at Cardiff City Stadium. While the second goal proved to be the most memorable, the opener proved equally significant as Malky Mackay’s side claimed an important victory in their push for a place in the play-offs, while for young striker Joe Mason it proved to be another step in cementing his place in the team against his senior attacking rivals. Following up on a shot from Kenny Miller that rebounded into his path off the post, the Irishman made no mistake to slot the ball past visiting goalkeeper Frank Fielding, and with it claim his eleventh goal of the season.

Joe Mason’s goal return from 42 appearances in all competitions for Mackay’s side may not sound overly impressive, but Mason will not turn 21 until next month and the summer-signing has started on the bench for 17 of those games. What does make Mason’s achievements this season impressive however is how he has settled into his return to the Championship and pushed his way into the side ahead returning fan-favourite Robert Earnshaw. The Wales striker has been forced to spend most of the season watching, and applauding, the efforts of Mason and his performances will have brought back some special memories for Earnshaw as the young striker deservedly accepts the plaudits of the Cardiff City crowd.

A former youth player at home-town club Plymouth Argyle, Mason was introduced to the Championship at a young age but his debut season in senior football will only be remembered for his clubs relegation to League One in 2010. Relegation is a tough acceptance for any professional footballer, but Mason suffered this cruel side of the sport as a teenager before making a name for himself in League One the following season, as he became an established player in the side. A further professional blow would strike next for Mason as Plymouth Argyle entered administration following well-documented financial problems that further distracted from his fledging senior football career. Malky Mackay would eventually then prove to be both vulture and saviour as Cardiff City cashed-in on Plymouth’s problems by signing Mason for £250,000 in July 2011.

As a club, Cardiff City have learnt the real value of money over recent years, and Mackay quickly showed how he had bought into the clubs ethos by signing Mason just a few days after tempting Robert Earnshaw back to the club on a free transfer. Nothing more than two weeks wages for some of the high-rollers of the Premier League, Mackay instead invested the spare £250,000 wisely in Mason, and the Republic of Ireland Under-21 International has rewarded his managers faith this season. While his profile has risen significantly, Mason’s feet have remained firmly on the football ground throughout, and even praise from some of Ireland’s biggest names have not distracted him from his focus of playing his part in Cardiff City’s promotion push.

Mason is yet to earn a senior cap for the Republic of Ireland, but his Championship form this season will not have been lost on wily manager Giovanni Trapattoni, as the Italian prepares his adopted nation for the European Championships. Ireland hero Robbie Keane, a veteran of 115 caps for his country, has been an audible supporter of Mason and has called for him to gain his first taste of senior international football sooner rather than later. The praise has also been echoed by team-mate Stephen McPhail, himself selected for Ireland by Trapattoni, and as someone who has seen Mason develop at close-hand the midfielder is well-placed to make some astute observations on the progress he has made.

Mason has publicly conceded that the European Championships may be a bit too soon for him to make his international mark, but privately he harbours a very different ambition, although his eventual call-up is inevitable and his current form will only help make it a formality. International football is a big stage whatever the occasion, and while a major tournament such as the European Championships is an event able to separate the men from the boys, Mason’s rise on a domestic level this season has also enabled him to enjoy one of the defining moments of his young career despite it arriving on the day of one of his biggest football disappointments.

In February the Carling Cup Final was played between Cardiff City and Liverpool in front of a packed Wembley Stadium. Bargain-buy Joe Mason, a key figure in Cardiff City reaching the final of the competition, was named in the starting line-up by Malky Mackay and rewarded his manager with the opening goal of the game after just 19 minutes when he slotted the ball past Pepe Reina. The goal was not too dissimilar in terms of the time or the finish to his goal against Derby County on Tuesday night, in addition both goals were reward for Mackay’s faith in the Irishman over his more established names, but unlike the goal against Derby the strike against Liverpool did not lead his side to eventual success. Liverpool picked up the first silverware of the season with a penalty shoot-out victory, the emotion of his teams cruel defeat contrasting greatly for Mason with his celebration of opening the scoring that day.

Malky Mackay has shown in Joe Mason that he is content to pick players in form ahead of his more established names when necessary. In his first season in charge of the side, Mackay has led what started out as an experimental squad built up from the previous seasons decimation into their current play-off position, and they have also reached a major final along the way. Wembley may have proved an unwelcome distraction as the side struggled with form and consistency when their focus shifted to Kenny Dalglish and his squad of big-name price-tags, but Mackay has refocused his squad on the real task at hand, and as the disappointment of Wembley fades their motivation has made a noticeable welcome return. Cardiff City are no strangers to the Championship play-offs however, but they are strangers to Championship play-off success, and the side must now complete the job that started back in August.

Back in August however Joe Mason had a very different ambition. The challenge of competing against veteran duo Kenny Miller and Robert Earnshaw together with the talented Rudy Gestede for a place in the starting line-up no doubt dented Mason’s realistic aims for the season ahead, but the Irishman has consistently produced when asked, and has now become an important part of the side while his early season rivals look in from the outside. Playing any small part in Premier League promotion would have been a dream for Mason when he completed his move from Plymouth back in July, but success in his domestic ambition and the important role he has played in it could yet lead to an appearance at the European Championships just one year on. Whatever success Malky Mackay brings to Cardiff City during his time as manager, Joe Mason has already shown enough promise to suggest he could be one of his defining signings, as well as being the absolute bargain-buy of the current campaign.

The article was also published on the WalesOnline Magazine Sports Blog here – http://blogs.walesonline.co.uk/sport/2012/04/the-rising-stock-of-mackays-ba.html

The religious festival of Easter is a traditional time of faith, belief and inspiration. Last weekend the sporting calendar included a busy schedule of fixtures from Friday through to Monday, but the impact of Easter Sunday’s results was largely caused by mind over matter, and now Wrexham face their own psychological battle to achieve promotion back to the Football League. Last weekend was not just about football however, and while Mario Balotelli was making his own impression on the Premier League title, the mental pressure of golf was more than evident at Augusta and the US Masters. In addition, the calm and calculated approach from Manchester United against QPR was matched by the circus at Arsenal as Manchester City all-but conceded the title to their biggest rivals, while at Augusta, experienced veteran golfers under-hit putts and sliced their drives as they closed in on the coveted green jacket.

There was of course a lot of lower-profile sport last weekend and on Good Friday Wrexham were surprisingly defeated at home to Alfreton Town. For Andy Morrell’s side it was a second consecutive home reverse and one that offered Fleetwood Town a distinct advantage in the title race. The defeat tarnished the private celebrations for Morrell of being rewarded for his efforts this season with a new contract, and his challenge now is to pick his side back up, when the majority of the season has been spent maintaining his sides motivation and momentum. A dip in form and performance was inevitable after such a long campaign with a limited but talented number of players, but for Morrell and Wrexham, it could not have come at a worse time. Everything is still to play for however and there is every chance that the season will have a happy ending, but as the pressure mounts at the business end of the campaign, it is mental strength that can offer the real edge.

Andy Morrell is an experienced campaigner and has openly acknowledged this week how the pressure of being pushed for the league title has affected his side. The pressure however is nothing compared to that which the club suffered before a ball was kicked this season when the very future of football at the Racecourse was left in the balance. The supporters performed against the odds then and the feel-good factor has benefited Morrell and his side ever since. As the season progressed however, their fine form became the accepted standard, and the rare defeat was questioned. Wrexham now appear destined to take on teams in the end of season play-offs with a twenty-point plus advantage, but success will depend on the cruel format of the cup-like ties, their points haul counting for little against their mathematically inferior opposition. The psychological side of sport will be never more apparent than when teams across the country have their fate decided in their respective division play-off games.

The US Masters was decided by a play-off last Sunday. After four days of often faultless golf, eventual winner Bubba Watson and his closest challenger Louis Oosthuizen were tied after four rounds. Oosthuizen had hit one of the tournament’s most memorable shots at the second hole earlier in the day, while Watson had consistently held his nerve on the green. The play-off saw both players find the trees from their respective drives however, and both shots were inconsistent with the form both players had produced throughout the tournament, but Watson eventually emerged as the players to hold his nerve. It was a victory of mental strength over skill, and while both players had demonstrated both of these qualities during the four days, the extra edge of the deciding hole left one coming up short.

Football by comparison is a team game, but when the margins are tight, it is the moments of individual brilliance and individual mistakes that decide results. These moments are not just restricted to the players of the competing teams as similar right or wrong decisions from referees and managers can be just as influential on the final scoreline. Although the Masters may have been decided with a mind-over-matter display, if Wrexham are to succeed in the Blue Square Premier play-offs, it is fair to assume that the psychological preparations must start now. But such mental toughness and its impact is not just restricted to this stage of the season, and its features have been apparent through much of the current season.

Wrexham started the season in fine form as Dean Saunders used the off-field problems to galvanise his squad of players. The work of the supporters was not lost and offered extra motivation to perform and reward those who had given so much to the cause. Cardiff City suffered a dip in form through the distractions of Wembley and the Carling Cup Final, while Newport County by comparison have consistently improved their league form since reaching the FA Trophy Final. Swansea City have grown in confidence throughout their first season in the Premier League as manager Brendan Rodgers keeps faith with his players and his approach, and their self-belief has brought some famous victories to the Liberty Stadium, as they defy the odds in the top-flight and against teams with far more ability. There are plenty more examples across the sporting world of the power of the mind.

What makes success so important for Wrexham this season however is what they have already achieved. Having already earned an incredible points haul, repeating such a feat in the future, after failure, will be Morrell’s toughest challenge yet. Wrexham have every reason to be optimistic and have every reason to believe that they can make a deserved return to the Football League, and should this be through the play-offs then the challenge will be a very different one, but one they have shown all season that they are capable of rising too. Mind games between managers make for good press and designed comments are paid more attention to by the media than by the intended recipient. The psychology of sport is a very different matter however, and one that exists throughout each and every season. Andy Morrell may yet have to become an expert in both as he prepares his side for the final push, but the rewards make every effort, and every possible advantage, worthwhile.

This blog was also featured in the official match programme of Wrexham FC for the Blue Square Premier match against Grimsby Town on Saturday, 14th April 2012.

The Welsh Cup has provided a source of debate over the course of the season as the Football Association of Wales looked to raise the profile of the competition. Wrexham, Newport County and Merthyr Town accepted the invitation to return to the Welsh Cup this season but the football romance story that the FAW wanted in order to increase interest in the domestic cup competition has arrived from an unlikely source. Cefn Druids, based in nearby village of Rhosymedre, last weekend reached their first Welsh Cup final since 1904 as they eased past Welsh Premier League opponents Airbus UK Broughton 4-1 at Rhyl. As well as the prestige and prize money associated with reaching the final, Cefn Druids, of the second-tier Cymru Alliance league, may have also booked a place in the UEFA Europa League with last weeks win.

Cefn Druids will take on The New Saints in the final, and should their full-time opponents win the Welsh Premier League this season, then Druids will make their European debut even if they lose in the showpiece match. The New Saints are currently league-leaders, title-favourites and are on course for a domestic treble, and while Druids will be confident having disposed of three Welsh Premier League sides to reach the final, but the potential prize of European football may have already been achieved. Huw Griffiths is the man who has led Wales’ oldest football club to the brink of Welsh Cup success. An experienced defender in the Welsh Premier League with Bangor City, Newtown and Druids, Griffiths may only be thirty-five but already holds the coveted UEFA Pro Licence, and he has already established himself as a well-respected manager having also taken charge of Welshpool Town in the domestic top-flight.

This latest achievement for Druids follows on from the development of their new stadium, and a return to the Welsh Premier League will be the next ambition. European football and the riches it brings would offer Druids a significant advantage over their Cymru Alliance rivals next season, and in Griffiths they have a manager who can help them realise their aims, providing his Welsh Cup success doesn’t turn too many heads and he is tempted away from the Rock by a bigger club. Should Griffiths bring European football to Druids this summer, they will become the first club in the Welsh domestic game that play outside of the top-flight to represent Wales in Europe, and the fact that Druids are in fact the oldest club in Wales and competed in the first ever Welsh Cup final in 1878, only adds to the football romance story that their success has generated.

The Football Association of Wales have spent the last couple of seasons experimenting with the competition in order to improve its profile and status. From extending the competition to include clubs from the lower-levels in Wales last season to inviting the six clubs competing in England this year, the experiments have brought mixed success, but have all been made with the best intentions. Another experiment has come to an unfortunate end however, as the final between Cefn Druids and The New Saints will now take place at Bangor City’s new stadium in Nantporth. The venue is well-suited for the occasion and the location will be welcomed by supporters of both clubs, but the decision to stage the match in Bangor means that the FAW have admitted defeat in one of their experiments to boost the status of the Welsh Cup.

Since 2009, the Welsh Cup final has been staged at Parc-y-Scarlets in Llanelli. Since opening the South Wales venue has been regularly used by the FAW for domestic and International fixtures, but the struggle to attract people through the turnstiles for domestic games meant that the showpiece final was played without atmosphere, as its size proved too big for games involving Welsh Premier League clubs. Luckily for the FAW, the three finals to be played there have all involved Bangor City, the best-supported club in the league, but when the previous holders were eliminated this season there were significant concerns about the final. The four semi-finalists are not recognised as clubs with a strong fan-base, and the fact that all four play their football in the North and not the South also pressured the FAW to accept that it was time for change.

The return of the Welsh clubs competing in the English pyramid was seen as an ideal solution to the finals attendance problem, but the experiment was ill-thought as fixture schedules dictated that the Welsh Cup would not be a priority for Wrexham, Newport County or Merthyr Town. Their early exits, together with confirmation from UEFA that clubs from the English system will not be eligible for the European prize, means that they are unlikely to compete in the competition again. A successful final at Nantporth will also suggest that Parc-y-Scarlets will no longer be considered a suitable venue for games involving clubs from the domestic leagues. The FAW are committed however to improving their cup competition, and it now appears that future experiments will involve working alongside the clubs in the Welsh Premier League to ensure that crowds continue to improve.

This seasons competition will however be remembered for the achievement of Cefn Druids. Whatever the outcome of the final, the clubs profile has been offered a substantial boost, and should European football be the eventual prize then the benefits will extend well into the new season. The Welsh Cup has generated some interesting stories this season and has created some special memories for many, but for Druids and manager Huw Griffiths it has provided a platform to build on, and both appear destined for better things as a result. Andy Morrell and his side may yet bring football success to Wrexham with promotion this season, but in the village of Rhosymedre, some football history has already been made. As for the final itself, in 1904 Druids beat Aberdare 3-2 in front of 6,500 people at the Racecourse, and the magic of the cup means that a repeat success should not be ruled out.

This blog was also featured in the official match programme of Wrexham FC for the Blue Square Premier match against Alfreton Town on Friday, 6th April 2012.

The twentieth Welsh Premier League Cup final will be played at Aberystwyth later this month when Afan Lido take on Newtown. The two teams have enjoyed domestic success over the same period of time, with both clubs previously representing Wales in Europe, while Afan Lido have won the League Cup competition twice in their short history. What makes their progression in this seasons competition so surprising however, is that the two clubs were favourites for relegation back in August, and that their route to Aberystwyth involved both clubs having to dispose of the Welsh Premier League’s wealthiest duo over two legs at the semi-final stage.

Afan Lido were the first to reach the showpiece final as they claimed a 2-1 victory at home to big-spending Neath last weekend. Already leading 1-0 from the first leg at the Gnoll, Lido were quietly confident of claiming another upset with home advantage and from having already claimed a victory over Neath in the league at the start of the campaign. Much-improved since the high-profile appointment of Kristian O’Leary however, Neath named a strong, attacking line-up for the match and took a deserved lead through Craig Hughes, but Lido showed what would be the fundamental difference in the tie when they started the second half with two quick goals to eventually claim a 3-1 victory on aggregate. It was another sweet triumph for manager Andy Dyer against his former club.

Newtown had the trickier task of overcoming league leaders and current cup holders The New Saints however. With Bernard McNally’s team unable to move off the bottom of the Welsh Premier League table it seemed that not even home advantage would offer enough benefit after losing the first leg against The New Saints 3-2. The two away goals would prove valuable however as a single goal from Luke Boundford in the 85th minute earned the side a surprise victory and ended The New Saints’ three-year hold on the League Cup. Unlike Neath, The New Saints still remain on course for a domestic double, but not even the team changes made for the second leg were remarkable enough to take anything away from Newtown’s surprise success.

The two semi-final ties were very different however. Afan Lido and Neath could both yet qualify for European competition through the league this season, but their odds lengthen with each passing round of fixtures, and the League Cup represented the only remaining piece of silverware on offer. For Newtown and The New Saints however, the league remains of crucial importance for both clubs, as Newtown strive to move away from the bottom while The New Saints focus on remaining at the top. The League Cup was nothing more than a distraction to these far more valuable goals, however welcome the cash prize money will be to the now confirmed finalists, but for Newtown the success in reaching this significant fixture represents much more about their season that what it would have to The New Saints.

Newtown were the clear favourites for relegation in the summer. Well-documented cuts to the playing budget left popular new manager Bernard McNally scratching around the lower levels of the English pyramid system for players less than a month before the season began. Inconsistent results brought few victories and more heavy defeats than their performances merited, but his young side quickly adapted to the challenge of the Welsh Premier League, and results began to match their commitment. A positive attitude brought with it a will to win against the odds while the obvious team spirit made up for what the league’s lowest budget could not afford in talent. Newtown remain bottom, but a victory over relegation rivals Carmarthen Town last weekend was significant, and cup success may not be their only triumph against the odds this season.

Joining Newtown in the list of clubs likely to struggle last August were Afan Lido. Promoted from the South Wales feeder league last summer, Lido appointed dismissed Neath manager Andy Dyer as the man to retain their place in the top-flight. Dyer had led Neath through the transition to full-time football and had guided the club to a place in the UEFA Europa League before his surprise sacking last May, and he arrived at the Marston’s Stadium with a point to prove. Despite his determination not to admit it, especially when his first win of the season came against his former employers, Dyer had been treated harshly by the Gnoll club and to also reach the League Cup final at the expense of Neath was a sign that his players had inherited his commitment to proving a point.

Much has been made of Afan Lido this season, currently challenging for a place in the European play-offs, their well-organised performances have made things difficult for a number of top sides during the campaign, and their victories over Neath were matched by a deserved league win against The New Saints in November. Like Newtown, they have also been praised for the team-spirit that has spurred them on during games. When Neath went ahead, Lido battled back and reversed the scoreline, after Lido went ahead, Neath faded and went down to ten-men in frustration of the impending defeat. The fundamental difference between the two sides was in their respective attitudes, as much as it was in the final score.

Neath and The New Saints are the Welsh Premier League’s only two full-time professional clubs while the combined playing budgets of Afan Lido and Newtown would struggle to attract a handful of players from either team. Afan Lido and Newtown were both awarded the FAW domestic licence this week while both Neath and The New Saints were the only two out of the twelve clubs to fail at the first instance body hearing. The reasons have not been disclosed and the decisions can be changed on appeal on the 27 April, but it will not be of concern to Afan Lido or Newtown, who will then be preparing for the following days cup final. Neath have well-documented financial concerns. Afan Lido and Newtown have well-documented financial limitations. Only two of the three clubs work within their means.

For many Welsh Premier League observers a cup final between Afan Lido and Newtown offers limited appeal, and the attendance when the two clubs meet in the league over Easter will no doubt confirm this fact. What the final does offer however is a deserved chance of silverware for two clubs who have defied the odds this season, and while Newtown remain in relegation trouble, the fact that they are still in with a chance of staying up and have the momentum against their rivals could still result in a great escape. Afan Lido by comparison have achieved more, with less, than any other club in the Welsh Premier League this season and like Newtown their place in the final is a deserved one. In recent seasons the Welsh Premier League has seen too much over-paid under-achievement at both ends of the table. The League Cup final now offers something different, and the Manager of the Year award could, and maybe should, be decided by whoever lifts the trophy at Aberystwyth.

The article was also published on the WalesOnline Magazine Sports Blog here – http://blogs.walesonline.co.uk/sport/2012/04/more-with-less-the-secret-for.html

The Welsh Cup has been headline news in the Welsh Premier League over the last few weeks as the Football Association of Wales failed in their attempt to attract their clubs from the English pyramid returning to the competition with the carrot of a European place. The idea was an integral part of a plan to boost the profile of competition, but an unfortunate injury and the luck of the draw has paved the way for a different football romance story to emerge from this seasons competition, without the involvement of any of the six Welsh clubs playing in the English pyramid system. The story has only become possible however because of the decision to stop the six English pyramid clubs competing in the Welsh Cup in 1995, and for veteran goalkeeper Andy Mulliner, that decision allowed him to enjoy one of the defining moments of his football career.

With Wrexham denied the opportunity to defend the Welsh Cup they lifted in 1995, the opportunity for a new name to appear on the famous old trophy emerged. Clubs from the then-named League of Wales were made favourites and the dominant Barry Town side of that era found themselves in the final against village club Llansantffraid. The final would be the last competitive match to be played at Cardiff Arms Park and the national stadium was fittingly closed with an enthralling contest. In front of a crowd of 2,666, Llansantffraid went ahead, Barry Town equalised, Llansantffraid again went ahead, Barry Town again equalised. With extra-time needed, Llansantffraid yet again went ahead, Barry Town yet again equalised and the contest would be decided by a penalty shoot-out. Llansantffraid goalkeeper Andy Mulliner had been at fault for Barry Town’s two goals in normal time, but the penalty shoot-out offered him the opportunity to put right his wrongs, and he did not disappoint with two fine saves.

Barry Town were firm favourites to lift the trophy, their second final in three years, but they were defeated by the under-dogs as manager Graham Breeze masterminded one of the clubs most famous moments. Since that time the club, now named The New Saints, have themselves become a full-time outfit and have enjoyed their own period of dominance while earning the Welsh Premier League some much-needed credibility in Europe. The Welsh Cup win in 1996 handed the club a place in the European Cup Winners’ Cup and Mulliner was again the hero for Llansantffraid as they held Polish cup winners Ruch Chorzow to a 1-1 draw at the Racecourse. The side suffered a heavy 5-0 defeat in the 2nd leg however and a few years later Mulliner left the club and went onto enjoy a distinguished career in the Welsh Premier League with a number of clubs including Rhyl, Bangor City, Aberystwyth, Newtown and Caersws amongst others. Now 41, Mulliner was tempted out of retirement by Airbus UK Broughton at the start of the season to act as cover for Niki Lee-Bulmer, but a dislocated shoulder has ruled the former Manchester United and Queen’s Park Rangers youngster out for the remainder of the season.

Airbus UK Broughton, now under the guidance of recently-appointed manager Andy Preece, are pushing for European football on two fronts as they look to book a place in the Welsh Premier League’s European play-off. The club are also in the last four of the Welsh Cup however, and it is that route to glory that will be the most attractive for Mulliner, especially as the semi-final draw has made a final against Mulliner’s former club a very real proposition. Airbus UK will have to negotiate a potentially difficult semi-final against lower-league Cefn Druids to reach the final while The New Saints will also have to be at their best to defeat Welsh Premier League rivals Bala Town, but both clubs head into the games as favourites, and Mulliner’s surprise chance of further Welsh Cup success could very well come at the expense of the club he previously celebrated it with.

Like Llansantffraid in 1996, Airbus UK Broughton are yet to lift the famous old trophy or compete in European competition. The club are ambitious and have made significant investment on and off the field in recent seasons. European football would put the club on a new level and with just a few weeks of the season remaining the club have the opportunity to qualify for Europe through both the league and cup. Andy Mulliner brings a wealth of experience to their cause and his performances in the clubs remaining games will decide if their ambitions are to be achieved this season. Having already amassed an impressive 477 Welsh Premier League appearances, the few remaining games of the current season may yet prove to be Mulliner’s most important.

The Football Association of Wales have made efforts to improve the profile of the Welsh Cup in recent seasons but stories such as Andy Mulliner’s show that the competition has plenty to offer in its current guise. While his club are not favourites to lift the Welsh Cup this season, they are now close enough to believe that they have every chance of success, and in current number one Andy Mulliner they have an experienced veteran and former Welsh Cup winner in their ranks. Famous stories surrounding the Welsh Cup have traditionally revolved around the big three of Swansea, Cardiff and Wrexham, but if Mulliner can roll back the years and again lift the Welsh Cup sixteen years on, he can also confirm his own place in the competition’s long history.

The article was also published on the WalesOnline Magazine Sports Blog here – http://blogs.walesonline.co.uk/sport/2012/03/repeat-welsh-cup-success-the-t.html