Welsh Premier chiefs are proposing a summer football move for a two-year experimental period as the big freeze plays havoc with their fixture list.

The league expects to suffer a second successive weekend whitewash as snow and freezing temperatures continue.

The summer season debate is a divisive issue in Welsh football but league secretary John Deakin has called the 12 Welsh Prem clubs "to give it a go."

"It's a simple solution that could help all of our problems," said Deakin.

The Welsh Premier has always been a winter league but some managers and players have often called for a summer switch since its formation in 1992.

Welsh Premier clubs have often bemoaned their winter league disadvantage when playing Scandinavian or Baltic opposition in the early stages of European football.

Their Champions League or Uefa Cup qualifying rivals are often already halfway through their season as they play in a summer football league - giving them a fitness advantage when playing Welsh clubs in June just weeks after the start of their pre-season training.

The latest summer football call, however, is because of the severe disruption to the Welsh Premier's fixture list thanks to to the continued snow and freezing temperatures which have made pitches unplayable.

The league already have 16 fixtures to rearrange without the expected Boxing Day postponements - and Llanelli have not played a game since beating Aberystwyth Town 3-1 on 9 November.

Reds boss Andy Legg is a football traditionalist and has never been a supporter of summer football - until now.

"I'm not a lover on summer football as football is a winter game," said the former Wales international.

"But I do hope they will give summer football a go - that is the way to see Welsh Premier progressing."

Now Welsh Premier boss Deakin believes he could get a majority of support from the new slimmed-down 12-team league to trial summer football for Wales' top-flight.

"I have been an advocate of summer football for 10 years and now some players and managers we've spoken to as well," said Deakin.

"I think it is worth trying.

"If we do decide to go to summer football and give it a two-year experiment, if it doesn't work we can revert back to a winter season.

"If it didn't work I'd be the first to put my hand up and admit I was wrong.

"Initially there were objections but over time, there have been more and more positive vibes coming from the clubs.

"We have 12 clubs and I'm pretty confident that if I went to those 12 clubs, I would get a majority to give it a go.

"It is no brainer as far I'm concerned as it is a lot better to watch a game of football on a summer evening wearing short sleeves than going out dressed like an Eskimo in the middle of winter and playing football on bad surfaces.

If we do decide to go to summer football and give it a two-year experiment, if it doesn't work we can revert back to a winter season. If it didn't work I'd be the first to put my hand up and admit I was wrong Welsh Premier secretary John Deakin

"But I have to take the view of the wider Welsh football family, particularly the Football Association of Wales.

"I think, however, it could transform our league in more ways than one, for the fact we won't be up against the Premier league and Football League in England."

Legg's Llanelli have not played for more than six weeks and must play another 10 games before the Welsh Premier splits in two.

The league is due to split on 15 January but league bosses are recommending that the split is delayed until 5 February so clubs like Llanelli and Prestatyn can get through their currently "unmanageable backlog".

And Legg, the former Swansea City and Cardiff City defender, believes there is a number of reasons why the Welsh Premier should consider switching to summer football.

"The Welsh Premier would get more supporters through the gate, attract more media attention and attract families," said Legg.

"There is currently no football in the summer in Britain and we would capitalise on that void. That is the way I see the Welsh premier progressing."

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version