Lloyd Williams voices concerns over Welsh cup proposals

Marc Lloyd Williams does not believe Cardiff City, Swansea City, Wrexham and Newport County should be allowed to enter a Welsh League Cup with a view to qualifying for European football.

Talks have been held over the possibility of the country's four English Football League (EFL) clubs playing in a Welsh cup competition which would offer the chance of qualification for the Europa Conference League.

One of the key aims of the proposals - titled Prosiect Cymru - would be to boost Wales’ standing in Uefa's association club coefficients.

However, Lloyd Williams - the Cymru Premier's all-time record goal scorer with 319 goals - feels Wales' four EFL sides should continue to play their football solely in the English system.

“I am not sure what the [Cymru Premier] clubs think about it," he told BBC Radio Wales.

“For me, the four clubs made the decision to play in England, so stay in England. Don’t try and take those European spots off the Cymru Premier teams. It is their bread and butter, week in, week out."

At present, the Welsh sides in the EFL can only qualify for European competitions via the Premier League, FA Cup or EFL Cup.

Lloyd Williams feels that if the Welsh league cup proposals go ahead, the EFL sides could be taking chances to play European football away from Cymru Premier teams.

“Swansea, Cardiff, Wrexham and Newport are in the Football League and the FA Cup and EFL Cup. They have got a chance to play Liverpool, Manchester City, Arsenal with a home tie and get big crowds in," added Lloyd Williams.

“Just because TNS (The New Saints) have qualified for Europe, it doesn’t necessarily mean that Cardiff or Swansea or Wrexham or Newport would.

“For me, you can’t be having your cake and eating it. They have made their decision and I would be against them coming in.”