2010–11 Welsh Premier League

Teams

Rhyl were denied the domestic licence for competing in this season's Welsh Premier League and were therefore relegated to the second tier. Welsh Premier League aspirants Llangefni Town (Cymru Alliance) and Afan Lido (Welsh Football League First Division) were also denied licences meaning that no team from the second tier was promoted. Since these three teams failed to obtain licences, the best three teams originally to be relegated, with all three obtaining their licences, were spared from relegation (Bala Town, Haverfordwest County and Newtown). Rhyl became the third Championship winning side to be relegated after Barry Town and Cwmbran Town. Rhyl had had the highest home attendances in the league for the last seven seasons.

Team summaries

Managerial changes

League table

Results

Teams played each other twice on a home and away basis, before the league split into two groups - the top six and the bottom six. Clubs in these groups played each other twice again to bring the total fixture count to 32. This meant a decrease in fixtures from 34 games to 32 from the previous season.

Matches 1–22

Matches 23–32

Top six

Bottom six

UEFA Europa League play-offs

As Llanelli AFC had already been assured of a Europa League spot by virtue of playing in the 2010–11 Welsh Cup Final against Champions-League qualified Bangor City, third-placed Neath and fifth- through eighth-placed sides Port Talbot Town, Prestatyn Town, Aberystwyth Town and Airbus UK Broughton competed in the inaugural play-offs for the second 2011–12 UEFA Europa League spot available via league placement. The winners of this play-off would go on to enter the Europa League in the first qualifying round.

Quarterfinal

Aberystwyth Town and Airbus UK Broughton, as worst-placed teams of the play-off participants, had to compete an extra match in order to reduce the teams for the semi-finals to four. The winners of this match would face Neath in the semi-final.

McCarten

Semifinals

The semi-finals were held simultaneously on 15 May. Aberystwyth Town, having beaten Airbus, faced third-placed Neath in the first, while fifth-placed Prestatyn faced off against sixth-placed Port Talbot in the other.

Fowler

Hayes

Final

The final was held at Neath's Gnoll, as they had finished higher than Prestatyn in the league and had therefore 'earned' home advantage. Neath won the game 3-2 and will play in the Europa League next season as a result.

Hill , Fisher-Cooke

Top goalscorers

Including matches played on 18 February 2011; Source: Soccerway

References

References

1. (13 June 2009). "Clubs accept reduced Premier League". [[BBC]] online.
2. "Wales - Premier League fixtures and results". Soccerway.
3. "Post-split fixture list released". [[Welsh Premier League]] official website.
4. "Shock as Rhyl fail in licence bid".
5. (5 August 2010). "Ryan walks out on the robins". welsh-premier.com.
6. (7 August 2010). "Cale confirmed as Newtown manager". welsh-premier.com.
7. (15 November 2010). "Haverfordwest sack Brazil". s4c.co.uk.
8. (27 November 2010). "Gavin Chesterfield takes over at Haverfordwest". walesonline.co.uk.
9. (1 March 2011). "Chesterfield's reign lasted three months". welsh-premier.com.
10. (1 March 2011). "Brazil makes shock return to Haverfordwest". welsh-premier.com.
11. (May 2011). "Connah’s Quay see Welsh Premier hopes dashed". [[Liverpool Daily Post]].
12. "Reds book Europa League return ticket". [[Welsh Premier League]].