WELSH football could be set for another huge change after it was revealed four of the country's clubs playing in England were in talks about entering the Nathaniel MG Cup.
Cardiff City, Swansea City, Wrexham and Newport County each want to enter a Welsh cup competition in order to qualify for European football and the associated riches.
The quartet of clubs would continue to enter English league and cups but would sacrifice any route to Europe in order to compete in the Nathaniel MG Cup for a chance to represent Wales in the Europa Conference League.
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According to BBC Wales Sport the four clubs and the FAW have already presented their vision – Prosiect Cymru – to UEFA, the Football Association, Premier League and clubs in the Cymru Premier.
Central to those presentations has been an extensive independent report into the venture by Deloitte, which was commissioned by Swansea on behalf of the four EFL clubs and the FAW.
It is suggested Prosiect Cymru would “drive improvement for the whole Welsh football ecosystem” and that “financial gains will be re-distributed in a manner that lifts grassroots, domestic Welsh clubs and the women’s game”.
It is also hoped the involvement of the EFL clubs could improve Wales’ standing in UEFA's association club coefficients, from 50th to “40th or higher”.
Welsh clubs in the EFL have not participated in an FAW competition since the FAW Premier Cup – which did not offer European qualification – was abolished in 2008.
Cardiff, Swansea and Newport have entered under-21 sides in recent editions of the Nathaniel MG Cup, but the introduction of their first teams - and chance to qualify for Europe - would represent a major development for Welsh football.
According to the Prosiect Cymru report: “Welsh football is in a unique position within European football in that its largest clubs play in the domestic league of another country (England).
“This has historically limited the ability of Welsh domestic clubs to be competitive in UEFA club competitions.
"An innovative solution to address this position has transformational potential for the whole Welsh football ecosystem from grassroots to the professional men’s and women’s game.”
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