We support Barry Town United’s call for FAW to reconsider Nomads v Bala replay decision

Grassroots North Wales supports Barry Town United in calling for the FAW to reconsider its decision to demand Connah’s Quay and Bala Town replay Tuesday night’s Cymru Premier match, which was abandoned due to fog after 62 minutes with Nomads 3-0 ahead.

The FAW National Leagues Board voted on Wednesday to reschedule the match for Friday, January 17.

Barry will miss out on a top-six place in phase two of the season on goal difference if Bala get a draw in the replayed game.

In a statement released on Wednesday, Barry Town United said: “Barry Town United are deeply disappointed by the FAW decision to demand that Connah’s Quay Nomads and Bala Town replay their Cymru Premier match, despite the circumstances of the match changing substantially.

“This has been the most exciting conclusion to Phase One of the league in many years, with five clubs playing on the final day for the final three places in the league’s Championship Conference, a top six place with an automatic European Conference League place and no threat of relegation.

“Instead of a competitive conclusion to those 22 matches, we now have a single match in which one club has the advantage of knowing beforehand how they can succeed above other clubs, and their opponents objectively now have less reason to play competitively, knowing they can no longer reach a top six placing.

“The concept of ‘sporting integrity’ which was so integral last week to the FAW, Barry and other clubs rescheduling matches to play together on the final day has been ignored and dumped which goes above our beliefs as a club.

“At a time when the FAW are keen to showcase the benefits and advantages of Cymru Premier membership, this in our opinion is a very poor decision that reflects badly on the Welsh pyramid by creating an unfair sense of advantage, rather than a level playing field.

“We call on the FAW to reconsider their decision.

“We’d like to place on record our thanks to our manager, staff and players who have worked so hard to achieve our set objectives in phase one and now see this opportunity taken out of their hands.”

OUR OPINION

Grassroots North Wales feels the result from Tuesday should stand as it looked very unlikely – although possible – that Bala would recover a three-goal deficit.

The intention of the FAW was to ensure everyone in top six contention played within the same fixture list to create a level playing field on the final phase one evening. That has fallen flat.

Bala now have the advantage they did not possess on Tuesday of knowing exactly what they have to achieve to make the top six.

Also, the Nomads, who before Tuesday night still had an outside chance of an upper-half berth, can no longer get there. Even if they win the replay they won’t make it. Other results on Tuesday saw to that.

So there is reduced incentive for Nomads going into the game. They have also revealed they will have to field a weakened side on Friday due to several key players missing.

NOMADS

Nomads released this statement on Tuesday
“Of course, in an ideal world, Phase One should be concluded concurrently in the name of sporting integrity.

“However, if we are instructed to replay the game in the next seven days or so, we need to highlight that we could have up to 7 (SEVEN) First Team starters unavailable due to pre-booked time off/holidays/business commitments.

“The 10 day break between Phase One and Phase Two has been in the diary since June 2024 for our players and backroom staff.

“Holidays have been booked, business and personal arrangements have been planned well in advance.
“Our squad has been in full training since the first week of June 2024, almost eight months now, due to our UEFA Conference League campaign preparations.

“This pre-planned break has been ring fenced in the calendar and it must be noted, some staff have already lost 3-4 days with the season being extended from Saturday.

“Whilst we can field a team to fulfil a potential rearranged fixture, there is no doubt whatsoever that this would need to be staffed by Academy players.”

FAW STATEMENT

“Following the abandonment of Connah’s Quay Nomads v Bala Town in the JD Cymru Premier on Tuesday, 14 January, the FAW National Leagues Board (NLB) has voted in favour of the fixture being replayed in full.

“In line with Cymru Premier Rule 20.1, the NLB considered both options available to them: ordering the match to stand completed as a 3-0 win for Connah’s Quay Nomads – the scoreline at the time of the match abandonment – or replaying the full period of 90 minutes.

“While recognising the extremely difficult and unique circumstances for all clubs impacted, with no solution likely to appease all parties, the NLB concluded that with 28 minutes plus any additional time still to play in the fixture, multiple variables could have occurred in that time frame and therefore the scoreline should not stand completed.

“This is consistent with previous decisions with regards to previous abandoned matches.”