17 bidding for promotion to HGA in 2018/19

LLANGEFNI Town are among 17 clubs to apply for promotion to the Huws Gray Alliance League in the 2018/19 season.

Cefni are currently second in Welsh Alliance Division One, just a point behind leaders Conwy Borough.

The Anglesey club has won the Huws Gray Alliance title on two occasions.

Six have expressed an interest in joining the HGA from the Welsh National League: Brickfield Rangers, Buckley Town, Chirk AAA, Corwen, Llanuwchllyn and Saltney Town, while Welsh Alliance League aspirants wanting to move up are: Conwy Borough, Llangefni and Llanrug United.

The remaining eight hopefuls are in the Mid-Wales League: Berriew, Carno, Knighton Town, Llandrindod Wells, Llanfair United, Llanidloes Town, Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant and Welshpool.

The 2018/19 campaign will be the last season before the league, as part of an FAW pyramid restructure, comes under the administration of the Football Association of Wales.

Also involved in the revamp will be the three-tier Welsh Alliance League, which has received 10 applications to join its Division Two next season.

From the Gwynedd League, Bontnewydd, Bro Goronwy, Gwalchmai, Holyhead Town, Llanystumdwy and Menai Bridge Tigers have thrown their hats into the ring.

Applicants from the Vale of Clwyd and Conwy League are Kinmel Bay, Llanfairfechan Town and Llansannan.

An application has also come in from Glantraeth to rejoin the league they resigned from at the start of this season. The Anglesey club won the Division One title last season, but rejected promotion to the tier-two Huws Gray Alliance as it could not meet new ground criteria. Last summer the champions lost the majority of their squad, and despite registering to compete in WAL Division One for 2017/18, a lack of players meant they never played a fixture and stepped down.

All grounds will be inspected by the end of January to comply with FAW regulations. Clubs must then meet league ground criteria by May 30 to be considered for promotion for season 2018/19.

It has also been confirmed that Anglesey League clubs Valley and Caergybi have applied to join the Gwynedd League for season 2018/19.