FAW's Mooney excited about Cymru Premier relaunch
· Yahoo Sports
Football Association of Wales chief executive Noel Mooney says the Cymru Premier is already showing "green shoots" prior to its relaunch next season.
The 2026-27 season will see an increase in the number of teams in Welsh football's top-flight from the current 12 to 16, including six promoted clubs.
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The FAW have made significant investment in the league, which was formed in 1992.
"We couldn't be more excited about the league," Mooney told BBC Sport Wales.
"We're starting to already see the green shoots, or green grass I suppose, of this league emerging.
"Going to 16 teams, it's going to be interesting, it's going to be fun for the fans to play against teams they've never played against before.
"And I think we're in for a really exciting Cymru Premier League next season."
[BBC]The Football Association of Wales announced in February 2024 a four-year £6m investment package, described as the single biggest investment in the league's 34-year history.
That followed a lengthy review into the top flight in which the FAW consulted with clubs, fans and other league stakeholders.
"We made a huge investment, unprecedented in Welsh football, into the Cymru Premier over the last few years," Mooney said.
"About three years ago we sat down with the clubs and we worked collaboratively with them to draw a plan up which includes moving to a 16 team next season for example.
"We employed full-time people in the clubs, we've put a multi-year stadium plan together and many other clubs we're starting to talk about developing their stadium and their facilities because we do believe if you build it they will come.
"So we've put our money where our mouth is, we've put the right people in place, we've put the right infrastructure in place.
"Already we can see things like Colwyn Bay having two and a half thousand people the other day, Caernarfon winning the Welsh Cup with the wonderful Cofi Army coming down to Newport for that final.
"So we're already seeing this emerging."
A crowd of 2,357 saw Colwyn Bay host Caernarfon Town on Good Friday – the fifth highest attendance in the league's history. [FAW]The FAW's revamp of the league has been taken to enhance competition, increase fan engagement and boost the league's commercial prospects.
Mooney confirmed a number of new partnerships would be announced over the coming months in advance of the new campaign, which will begin in August.
"We'll have a new brand we'll be launching very soon and we'll have new commercial partners coming to the league," Mooney added.
"We're in discussions about a new broadcast deal which will be very exciting for the league as well.
"So if you look at all of the different pillars of a league, community engagement, broadcast, commercial, infrastructure and so on, player development and that we really feel we're on the right journey."
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