THE Welsh Premier will be cut to 12 clubs in 2010, not 10 as originally planned by the Football Association of Wales.

With as many as 10 clubs set to be relegated in 12 months' time, the FAW and the Welsh Premier board hammered out a last-minute compromise which was agreed unanimously by clubs at the league's AGM in Llandrindod Wells.
The controverial proposal will see clubs playing each other four times in 2010/11 - a total of 44 league games. But the Loosemores League Cup will be slimmed-down to a straight knockout format to ease the fixture congestion.
Nevertheless, the leading sides could end-up playing as many as 60 games with European and Welsh Cup commitments.
The governing body still plans to cut the number of clubs to 10, which will probably be achieved by a two-up and three-down promotion and relegation policy in the two seasons after the changes take effect.
Qualification for the new "Super 12" will be determined by league position, but the prime criteria will be that clubs hold the new FAW domestic club licence.
The same requirement will apply to clubs seeking promotion from the Cymru Alliance and Welsh League.