Cardiff owner Sam Hammam is considering whether to make a bid for a current League of Wales side to find a way into European competition.

Neither Cardiff, Wrexham nor Swansea can represent Wales in any Uefa tournament because they play professionally in the English league.

However, Hammam believes that if he buys a League of Wales club and plays Cardiff's fringe players under its banner, it would open a door that had apparently been slammed shut by Uefa.

Obstacles

Hammam presented his case to the FAW on Thursday and their council will now take the matter to the European body.

"The council discussed all the aspects raised and decided unanimously to open dialogue with all the parties concerned - the League of Wales, Uefa, the Football Association and the Football League," said FAW secretary-general David Collins.

"This dialogue will begin as soon as possible and we shall be asking all four parties to comment and ask them if they believe it would be possible to raise the standard of the League of Wales in this way.

"There are a number of obstacles. The League of Wales would have to change its rules and Uefa would have to agree to accept the FAW's nomination of Cardiff City - or Swansea or Wrexham, as our representatives in European tournaments.

"But the game is changing all the time. This not a green light for Mr Hammam but we are prepared to see what we can do."

Reaction from League of Wales clubs to the FAW response was mixed.

Carmarthen manager Tomi Morgan accused the FAW of "passing the buck" to appease Sam Hammam.

Rule change

Morgan was also concerned the financial lure of Europe would be denied to League of Wales sides should Cardiff play in the competition.

""To take away the only carrot in front of us is very unfair," he said.

"Cardiff City should not be given the financial rewards of the Nationwide League and then come into the League of Wales and take that too," he added.

Newtown chairman Keith Harding believed the LoW sides should have been consulted sooner and could not envisage a rule change to allow Cardiff to take part.

"But I would be the first in the queue to welcome them with both hands," he said, despite reservations about European qualification for the league's current sides.

He added that the most practical way of fulfilling Hammam's European aspirations was so allow Cardiff, Swansea and Wrexham to compete in the Welsh Cup again.

"This would keep everybody happy," he said.