Cardiff or Swansea Good Chance of Europe Football

Chris Wathan, Western Mail

Euro spot would be welcome boost for us – Jones

CARDIFF CITY have given their backing to plans for a return of our biggest clubs to the Welsh Cup.

The FAW confirmed yesterday’s Western Mail revelation about plans to invite Cardiff, Swansea, Wrexham and Newport back into the competition with a place in Europe at stake for the winners.

The idea has been welcomed by Bluebirds boss Dave Jones, who declared the chance to qualify for the Europa League would greatly appeal.

The Bluebirds, Swans and Dragons’ last involvement in an FAW-run tournament was the much-maligned Premier Cup, which did not offer a European place for the winners.

But Jones, speaking before his side’s clash of the season with Championship leaders QPR, said: “If there's a European spot then I’m sure myself and the other managers at their clubs would welcome it.”

“European football is part of this club’s history. You think back to when Cardiff played Real Madrid ... that happened because they won the Welsh Cup, nothing to do with what they had done in the English league.

“I think it was only the Welsh that stopped it, not the English, so if nobody complained then, how can they complain today?”

But Cardiff and Swansea will put thoughts of a Welsh Cup return on hold as they look to bolster their Premier League promotion hopes this Easter weekend.

Jones responded to Neil Warnock’s claims the pressure is on his Bluebirds in tomorrow’s QPR clash by stating: “If we win on Saturday the pressure is on them just as much as us.”

And Swans boss Brendan Rodgers insisted his team’s automatic hopes aren’t finished, stating: “With four games ahead of us we can still get to where we wanted to be.”

www.walesonline.co.uk/cardiffonline/cardiff-football/2011/04/22/euro-spot-would-be-welcome-boost-for-us-jones-91466-28564018/#ixzz1KEHvC5Gq

Exactly my point Andy - they can't have it both ways. Either they want to play in the English league or the Welsh league - but it can't be "well we want to play in England but when it comes to cup matches and rulings then we are happy to be Welsh".

It's time for the FA to grow a spine and tell these sides once and for to make their choice - either stay in the despised English league set-up but then abide all the FA rules as though they are English club, or go to the Welsh league and play against the likes of Port Talbot & TNS every week.