Cymru Premier restart ‘bittersweet’, says Caernarfon Town chairman

Caernarfon Town chairman Paul Evans has described today’s FAW announcement about a return to football for the Cymru Premier as “bittersweet”.

The Cardiff-based association has received confirmation that the national league has been granted elite athletic status by the Welsh Government, meaning that the 2020/21 season can get underway on September 11.

Matches will initially take place without spectators as Welsh Government continues its cautious approach towards the COVID-19 pandemic.

This will hit Caernarfon Town especially hard, as their attendances dwarf all other 11 league clubs.

The Canaries are almost totally reliant on sponsorship and gate receipts, so the effect on their finances are expected to be severe.

Mr Evans said: “The news is bittersweet really. On the one hand we, like everyone else, are really looking forward to the return of football in Wales.

“However, the thought of returning behind closed doors is extremely worrying as it will have a very serious impact on most clubs financially, more so for Caernarfon as we rely so heavily on gate receipts.

“Every club will be affected of course, but as the best supported club in the league we will feel the impact more than anyone.

“We will ask the FAW if there is a compensation package in place to help clubs through this unique time but, going from a previous discussion we have had with them, I’m not optimistic.

“We are not a club that believes in living beyond our means and so we hope the FAW may help us and other clubs to ensure that we don’t have to.”