COMMENT: FAW score a big own goal over choice of Welsh Cup final venue

What are the FAW playing at?

Should they be called the Football Association of Wales any more? or maybe just add a South in front of Wales?

One of the most recent ridiculous decisions to emerge from Cardiff surrounds this month’s FAW Welsh Cup Final.

On Sunday, April 28, the showpiece game of Wales’ premier knockout competition between Connah’s Quay Nomads of North Wales and The New Saints of Oswestry will take place at – Newport County’s Rodney Parade ground!

What appalling planning. The FAW only announced the venue last month, so they cannot come out with the old chestnut – ‘it was decided on at the start of the season’.

Not only is the final being held on a Sunday, but a Sunday evening.

While Nomads and TNS are not the best supported of teams by any means, those that do wish to attend on April 28 face not only a long journey to South Wales, but also a 5.25 pm kick-off.

No doubt many fans will have to get home and work the next day – and the same will also be true for the part-time Nomads players. TNS are full-time, so it won’t affect their squad as much.

It’s an awful decision and one has to ask, do the Welsh FA give two hoots about the domestic game any more?

Or is it more of a priority for the top brass to get their day out at a more convenient location for them and be seen?

Why Rodney Parade? Home to a club that went to great pains to have no involvement in our national league from the start.

Home to EFL League Two side Newport County AFC and United Rugby Championship team Dragons RFC – what do either contribute to Welsh football?

True, the game will be shown live on TV and the internet, but it is hardly the ideal venue for visiting supporters of clubs from Deeside and Salop.

Yet again, it’s a case of the South getting preference over the North from those in suits.

Seven days later, the same situation will occur again.

Rodney Parade will again stage the Bute Energy Women’s Welsh Cup Final between Cardiff City and Wrexham on Sunday, May 5 (5.25 pm).

Fine for Cardiff of course, I’m alright Jack and all that, but quite a trek for Wrexham fans who want to see the girls aim to add the national trophy to their fine debut Adran Premier season.

Unlike Nomads and TNS, Wrexham are very well supported and no doubt will take a big crowd down south. The club’s considerable financial clout helps too of course when it comes to the cost of a Welsh Cup final day.

Nonetheless, a more central venue, such as Newtown’s Latham Park or Aberystwyth’s Park Avenue would have been far more suitable grounds to host these finals. And Colwyn Bay deserved consideration too.

Another own goal from the FAW, hot on the heels of the nonsensical decision to expand the unpopular Temporary Dismissals schemes across Welsh grassroots football next season.

But that’s a subject to be tackled on another day….