Welsh Conservatives in the Senedd have urged Welsh Government ministers to demand the Football Association of Wales’ (FAW) reconsider its "unfair" and "unjust" proposals for the Welsh Premier Women’s League.

In yesterday’s meeting of the Senedd, South Wales East MS, Laura Anne Jones, said the proposals were “unfair and unjust” and called on the Welsh Government to put pressure on the FAW to be more transparent about the process they have followed and revisit their decision to administratively relegate clubs that have been successful on the pitch.

The FAW’s proposes three Welsh Premier Women’s League (WPWL) sides be removed as the division is cut from nine to eight, including Abergavenny Women’s FC who finished fourth in the women’s Welsh top-flight, but have been relegated as part of the league restructure.

The decision has attracted cross-party criticism with Caerphilly’s Cascade Ladies YC and Briton Ferry Llansawel Ladies will also drop to the second-tier competition, while a side without a women’s team have been selected for the top flight.

South Wales East MS, Laura Anne Jones said: “Abergavenny Women’s FC have been in the Welsh top-flight for the best part of the last decade and despite finishing fourth this season, they have been inexplicably relegated at the stroke of an administrator’s pen.

“This decision means that there is no team from the whole of South East Wales in the top league and that has united politicians of all colours, across the region to fight this unfairness. The FAW need to be crystal clear on how they have come to this decision, and provide full transparency to the clubs that have been victims of this process.

“We all want Welsh Women’s football to grow and succeed with facilities that that are fit for purpose, but fairness has to be at the heart of sport. This process has been anything but, and has been both unfair and unjust.

“As we saw with the opposition to the European Super League, ministers can take the lead by working with other politicians, clubs, fans and communities to defeat disastrous proposals. We need to see the same in Wales now, especially during this transitional year and what will be a seismic shift in the women’s game.

“Welsh Government ministers should now intervene and use their power and influence to demand the FAW reconsider these ill-conceived, unfair and damaging proposals.”

Welsh Conservative spokesperson for sport, Tom Giffard MS said: “The effect of these relegations will be devastating to women’s football in a variety of ways and this process must be revisited.

“There has been a worrying lack of transparency and the integrity of the women’s game in Wales is now at risk. It also sends the wrong message to the next generation of Welsh football stars that their competitive success, hard work and dedication doesn’t matter.

“Labour ministers should send a strong message that any process has to be fair and transparent and that this has fallen far short of the standards required from a national governing body.”