Jiws calls for Summer Switch

Principality Welsh Premier League legend and leading scorer, Marc Lloyd Williams says changing the Welsh Premier into a summer league would give its teams a better chance in Europe.

Every year we meet clubs half way into their season, they're sharp and physical...The playing surfaces are magnificent right now, that's another benefit

"Ireland's clubs have shown the way," he said after Rhyl's 9-3 aggregate Intertoto Cup hammering against Eircom League leaders Bohemians.

"Summer football has helped them. Every year we meet clubs half way into their season, they're sharp and physical...The playing surfaces are magnificent right now, that's another benefit."

The idea of a switch to summer football has been on the agenda for years and - with Welsh Premier sides struggling year after year in Europe - becomes a hot topic around this time.

League officials informally discussed the possibility of such a change at a meeting in April and once again at the AGM in May, and asked clubs to take soundings from their members. Seven clubs indicted t both meetings, that they would be interested in such a switch. Interestingly it was the clubs at the top end of the League, with European aspirations that all suggested that the time was right to make the move.

Rhyl's new Head Coach Alan Bickerstaff said after the Bohemians defeat;

"We don't want to make excuses because we knew the situation going into the game...But playing summer football clearly gave Bohemians a major advantage."