THE Welsh Premier will be reduced to 10 clubs the season after next under plans revealed by the FA of Wales.
And the eight clubs that fail to qualify for the new "Super 10" next year will be relegated to the Cymru Alliance or Welsh League feeder system.
Selection for the new 'elite' league will be based on the FAW's domestic licencing criteria, with league position only coming into play if more than 10 clubs can meet licence requirements.
The criteria will broadly resemble those that the clubs currently have to satisfy in order to play in Europe - and only seven clubs were able to gain the FAW's Uefa licence this year.
Aberystwyth Town, Bangor City, Carmarthen Town, Llanelli, Port Talbot Town, Rhyl and The New Saints were successful.