THE future of Welsh football was mapped out by Football Association of Wales (FAW) chief executive Jonathan Ford at Newtown’s Latham Park this month.
After 18 months in the job the most powerful man in Welsh football is fronting a nationwide roadshow alongside former BBC man, Ian Gwyn Hughes.
The aim - simply to engage the public in Welsh football again following three disastrous qualifying campaigns under John Toshack and to change public attitudes toward the association.
Ford has already outdone his predecessor David Collins by meeting supporters, but admitted Welsh football has a long way to go in terms of improving its image and building for the future.
However Ford impressed the small number of club and league delegates with an impassioned presentation when he repeatedly underlined the need to work as a team for Welsh football.
“We are no different from any other association in that we compete in the qualifiers for our continental championship and World Cup,” he said.
“Football is the most popular sport in Wales, both in terms of associated clubs and participation.
“Uruguay has roughly the same population as Wales and made the semi-finals of the World Cup, while a rugby nation like New Zealand actually went to the same tournament and ended unbeaten.
“This shows that it is possible for a country like Wales to reach a major final.”
Ford insisted a long-term commitment to coaching and youth development was vital with an academy structure to be formed.
For the first time an FAW chief executive also revealed the national association needed to improve and confirmed each department had performed its own self analysis during his tenure.
The analysis revealed the association had a “universal desire for a clear direction and for better two-way communication with clubs”.
Further self examination revealed association staff backed a “complete re-write of all FAW articles and to align the association to modern day expectations”.
In a further commitment Ford vowed the FAW would “modernise area associations” - many of which run almost independently from the national body and even appoint full-time staff.”
However Ian Gwyn Hughes, the FAW’s head of public affairs, endured a cooler reception.
He claimed the media was partly responsible for poor attendances in the national league, while the introduction of the six English League affiliated clubs was the only way to revive the Welsh Cup.
However the majority of the room was left unimpressed as the FAW had been responsible for forcing through the 12 club Welsh Premier, which has alienated a majority of Welsh clubs.
The same body was behind the decision to host the Welsh Cup Final in Llanelli, which represented a round trip of over 300 miles for finalists Bangor City.
Reaction
Bernie Jones, Montgomeryshire Amateur League secretary
“I was extremely disappointed that the chief executive of the national association failed to mention two massive problems in Welsh football, namely schools and grassroots football.
“It was clear from the meeting that all the Welsh FA cares about is the national team.
“We heard a lot about winning the Welsh way but that has been the case for 50 years and has not worked, so perhaps the FAW should start investing money into grassroots for a change.
“You look at countries like Switzerland which has an association with coaches throughout their system. The FAW must acknowledge the players are there but their scouting is not.
“For the most part what Jonathan Ford said was an idealistic ‘pie in sky’ view of Welsh football.
“I left the meeting with a very strong view that the Welsh FA should look at itself when it calls for a team effort from Welsh football.
“After all is the current make-up of the FAW good enough to take Welsh football forward.”
Richard Davies, Guilsfield FC committee member
“In my opinion the whole night was a big public relations job but I felt Jonathan Ford came across quite well.
“He is obviously a determined character and has an impressive CV. I certainly agreed with his comment that before getting the FAW into the 21st century he had to get it into the 20th. The FAW is still light years behind many associations.
“I would hope that the FAW will take some concerns raised by clubs from the meeting and look to resolve them, but we will have to wait and see.
“It does seem the FAW is overly concerned with the national team and getting the public to care, but while the team is 150th in the world rankings there is not much incentive.
“I also feel an invite for the Welsh clubs, in the English leagues, to enter the Welsh Cup would be a massive slap in the face of genuine Welsh clubs.”
“I would like to see the Welsh FA put some effort into sorting out the problems with reserve team football in this area.”
Bob Williams, Llanrhaeadr committee member
“I have heard the same stuff being spouted by the FAW for decades. There was very little new to come out of the evening.
“The only new aspect was Jonathan Ford and Ian Gwyn Hughes’ well-rehearsed Morecambe and Wise double act, which came at the cost of the people who attended being able to speak.
“Once again the majority of the evening was dedicated to the national team, which was disappointing.
“The real problems facing Welsh football were not even raised. One such issue is the under-funding of all levels of Welsh football outside the Welsh Premier.
“I cannot understand why the 12 clubs in the Welsh Premier still need the current level of FAW funding when they must already meet criteria.
“Surely it would be a better idea to filter the money down the pyramid so more clubs can invest in their infrastructure and be in a better position to accept promotion should they earn it."
Nicky Morris, Newtown Whitestars chairperson
“ALTHOUGH the meeting did not go into any specifics on Central Wales I felt it was a good overview of the FAW’s development plan.
“Central Wales has been ignored in the past so it was pleasing that two senior Welsh FA figures were present and I genuinely believe that they listened to the many concerns.
“My motivation in football is ensuring children have an environment of structured football, which can greatly benefit them in all aspects of life.
“However junior football is wholly dependant on volunteers to survive and the FAW must ensure that there are opportunities for people to get involved with their local junior side.
“I would like to see a scheme aimed at children of 16 or 17 when they leave junior sport to be encouraged to take up coaching.
“This would mean more coaches and more people out there encouraging youngsters to develop their football and social skills.
“It does not matter what structure the FAW has in place unless the volunteers are there to run the game week in and week out.”