Decision night for Rhayader next week

Rhayader Town will make a final decision on promotion next Monday night
Rhayader Town will make a final decision on promotion next Monday night

Rhayader Town are widely expected to take their place in the Cymru Alliance for next season but not surprisingly a final decision will not be taken until the club’s Annual General Meeting on Monday 7 June.

Rhayader earned the right to play at the higher level as they finished runners-up in the Spar Mid Wales League last season.

Those clubs that wanted to be considered for promotion had to formally apply in advance and only Rhayader, Presteigne St Andrews and Llansantffraid Village went through the process.

The main criteria was that any successful applicant would have to finish in the top two places in their division so Rhayader was the only club to tick this critical box.

They secured their second-place finish with a run of seven straight wins towards the end of the season and it is widely anticipated they will take up the Cymru Alliance place on offer to them.

A recent meeting of the Spar Mid Wales League confirmed Berriew will be playing in the Spar Mid Wales League again next season after they were relegated from the Cymru Alliance at the end of last season – presumably as victims of the ‘cascade effect’ caused by the decision to reduce the FAW Premier League to only 12 clubs.

Assuming Rhayader Town do take the place on offer to them, then only one club will be relegated from the Spar League first division – Llanfyllin Town will play in the new second division next season.

The three Reserves teams will also leave the league – so Aberystwyth Reserves, Caersws Reserves and Newtown Reserves will all play elsewhere next season, although there is some doubt as to whether Aber Reserves will play at all.