Cardiff City beat Wrexham to win women's Welsh Cup
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Wales Online
a few seconds ago
- Wales Online
Ospreys and Scarlets in legal action against WRU amid Cardiff controversy
Ospreys and Scarlets in legal action against WRU amid Cardiff controversy The WRU's acquisition of Cardiff didn't go down well in some quarters and its emerged a legal challenge has been launched The Ospreys and Scarlets are in the midst of a legal challenge against the Welsh Rugby Union (Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency Ltd) The Welsh Rugby Union are in the midst of a legal challenge from the Ospreys and Scarlets over the governing body's acquisition of Cardiff in April. WRU chair Richard Collier-Keywood has confirmed the WRU have been embroiled in a legal dispute with two of its professional clubs but has emphasised his confidence in the union's position. Cardiff entered administration last April after Helford Capital failed to meet its financial requirements, leading to the WRU assuming ownership of the capital city club. This resulted in the Ospreys and Scarlets refusing to sign the new Professional Rugby Agreement (PRA) over concerns Cardiff would receive favourable treatment from the governing body. The WRU responded by calling in the two-year notice period on the old PRA, which has led Welsh rugby to the brink of a reduction of professional clubs from four to two. Confirmation of the ongoing legal challenge came on the day the WRU publicly announced it's preferred plan to halve the number of pro teams to just two, with a six-week consultation to now begin. The WRU has been accused by the two west Wales clubs of being in breach of UK and EU competition law as well as an abuse of its dominant position. Collier-Keywood says the process is ongoing but wants the arbitration to be postponed until after the consultation process. Article continues below "We are defending that as you might expect us to and we are confident of our position," he said. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby. "At the moment we have an arbitration which is scheduled for sometime in October. "Whether that takes place or not I think is a matter for all three parties involved in the arbitration. "Our view from a WRU point of view, which we expressed to the parties, is we think it would be better if that arbitration is stayed to allow us to do this consultation properly. "If people are uncomfortable over the outcome of that at that point of time then of course they can restart a legal challenge if they want to." WalesOnline understands it is likely to be postponed until December by which time the WRU will have decided on the number of professional clubs and which ones will either be merged or killed off completely. But Collier-Keywood is adamant this does no jeopardise the consultation process. "I don't think so," he said when asked. "I think we have to manage both and they are clearly interrelated. We've been really public about this around May, we had some really cogent reasons around why we did need to step in and rescue Cardiff. "We actually talked through that with the clubs the day following our decision to do it and the legal challenge emerged quite a bit later, frankly to that. "So, we believe in the best interests of Welsh rugby we shouldn't hang around and wait for that arbitration to reach its conclusion." WRU chair Richard Collier-Keywood (Image: Kian Abdullah/Huw Evans Agency) The legal challenge is partly based on a potential breach of the PRA in assuming ownership of Cardiff and taking on the role of the club's benefactor. "Yes, and we disagree with that," said Collier-Keywood when asked if a breach of the PRA was the basis of the legal case. "We think the previous PRA was pretty clear and we had the authority to step in and rescue that. "We did it for the best interests of Welsh rugby." Join WalesOnline Rugby's WhatsApp Channel here to get the breaking news sent straight to your phone for free If the WRU do push through their optimal solution of two professional clubs, Collier-Keywood conceded there is potential for further legal challenges. "There are probably two or three areas that there would be a potential legal challenge," he said. "One is we have contracts with the clubs called the PRA and we have made it very clear to the clubs we will stick by our obligations in those agreements. "We have two clubs on one and two clubs on a different version as you all know from the events that happened in early May. "But we are confident about that contractual position. "The second potential challenge is under competition law. "We want to hear people's views anyway but doing a consultation is an important element for us as a regulator of rugby in Wales of actually listening to people's perspectives, hearing that back and actually making the right decision for the future of Wales rugby as a whole as opposed to individual elements of it going forward. "The consultation we are engaging in now is a really important part of getting that right from a competition law perspective. "The final potential challenge is something to do with have we acted in malfeasance and so on and fairness. Get the latest breaking Welsh rugby news stories sent straight to your inbox with our FREE daily newsletter. Sign up here. "We've been very transparent on this as a board and we'll continue to be very transparent on it as a board. "We are doing it without any favour towards any particular one of the four regional clubs and we will continue to operate in that way. Article continues below "We feel confident about our legal position."
Wales Online
31 minutes ago
- Wales Online
Tonight's Cardiff City news as rival boss 'feels sick' after loss and rising star grabs attention
Tonight's Cardiff City news as rival boss 'feels sick' after loss and rising star grabs attention The latest Bluebirds news from Cardiff City Stadium Johnnie Jackson, Wimbledon Manager (Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency Ltd) Here are your Cardiff City headlines for Wednesday, August 20. Johnnie Jackson 'sick' for players after late Cardiff defeat AFC Wimbledon boss Johnnie Jackson admitted he felt 'sick' for his players after a stoppage-time strike from Isaak Davies condemned his side to defeat against Cardiff City. The League One clash looked destined to finish goalless until Davies diverted in David Turnbull's effort from the edge of the box deep into added time, sealing a 1-0 win for the visitors. The result leaves the Dons 14th in the table after four games, having won two and lost two. 'It's a tough one to take, I feel sick about that for my players really — the effort they put in to get no points out of it,' Jackson told BBC Radio London. 'It's always disappointing to lose a game. I just said to them in there, 'If you play like that week in, week out, we're going to pick up points and win a lot of games because we're a good side.' 'We showed it again tonight, we've shown it in every game so far this season. We've not always got the result but we've always shown that we'll compete, that we're a good team and we belong here.' Join the Cardiff City breaking news and top stories WhatsApp community. Article continues below Tankiewicz grabs attention Rising teenage star Robert Tankiewicz has grabbed the attention of Cardiff City fans after the 16-year-old starred in the Bluebirds' U21s win over Crewe. Tankiewicz is playing five years below the age bracket, but scored twice in the Bluebirds' 3-0 triumph over the Railwaymen, with Troy Perrett bagging the other goal. The Cardiff academy star, who has been with the club since U9s, has captained Wales at age-grade level and looks a top prospect in that attacking midfield role. The youngster has made his mark and, with first-team boss Brian Barry-Murphy unafraid to hand young players their opportunity, will be desperate to continue to impress in the coming months. Making only his second U21s appearance, Tankiewicz said before the game: 'Since I've started my scholarship, I've really enjoyed my time with City both on and off the pitch. I've been working hard, and the opportunities have come off the back of that. I'm much more comfortable in the U21s now, and now is the time to stay consistent and find my spot in the team. 'It was definitely a proud moment for me and my family. I'll have been at the club for eight years when December comes around. I found out I was being offered a scholarship last December, so seven years since I joined, and it's just such a proud moment. I've had a positive start to pre-season and the season itself, and I can't wait to play more. 'I've gained a lot of confidence and that's enabled me to be where I am now. When I started my scholarship and when I was able to get my spot in the U18s, I wanted to show that I was able to push and aim as high as possible. Now the time has come, and I need to remain consistent and humble." He is certainly one to watch. Isaak Davies hails young guns after late winner Isaak Davies says Cardiff's crop of academy stars are thriving under Brian Barry-Murphy after his stoppage-time strike sealed a dramatic victory at AFC Wimbledon. The 22-year-old came off the bench to snatch the points on Tuesday night, continuing the Bluebirds' unbeaten start to the League One campaign. Barry-Murphy once again named a youthful squad, with eight academy graduates included in the matchday 18. Davies' goal means seven of Cardiff's eight strikes this season have come from players who came through the club's youth system. 'You see every week now that the youngsters are performing,' said Davies. 'It's good to see boys you have come through the academy with on the pitch. The boys really deserved the win. To be fair to Wimbledon they made it tough for us, but we didn't stop until the end and we got what we deserved.' The result was Cardiff's first away win of the season and took them to 10 points from their opening four games, lifting spirits following relegation from the Championship. Remarkably, Barry-Murphy has achieved that start with just one summer signing, goalkeeper Nathan Trott. Next up is a testing trip to Luton Town on Saturday, with the Hatters also adjusting to life in League One following relegation last term. 'I think every game in League One is going to be tough,' Davies added. 'We need to play our game, focus on ourselves and obviously watch a bit of the opposition as well. We just need to carry on doing what we are doing.' Sign up to our daily Cardiff City newsletter here. --- *Follow all of our social channels to ensure you stay up to date with the latest Bluebirds news. Sign up to our daily newsletter here and our WhatsApp channel here . Article continues below You can also follow us on social media on our X account and Facebook .
Daily Mirror
33 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Joey Jones remembered as "incredible human being" in emotional service for Wrexham legend
A memorial service to honour the life of former Wrexham, Liverpool and Chelsea star Joey Jones was attended by more than 2000 fans and a number of fellow footballing legends Football legend Joey Jones was remembered as an 'incredible human being' at an emotional memorial service today. Sir Kenny Dalglish led a huge number of former Liverpool, Chelsea, Wrexham and Huddersfield Town players to attend. Jones' close friends and former Wales and Chelsea team-mates Mickey Thomas and Eddie Niedzwiecki both broke down in tears as they paid their own personal tributes. It was an extraordinary day here in Wrexham as 2000 fans listened to speakers recall their memories of the 'legend' Jones died aged 70 last month. His coffin was carried out of the stadium by ex team-mates including Ian Rush, Kevin Ratcliffe and Niedzwecki to the sound of Gerry and the Pacemakers 'You'll never Walk Alone.' Some fans were crying as they said goodbye to their hero. The defender was immortalised when Liverpool supporters memorably unfurled a banner at the 1977 European Cup final against Borussia Monchengladbach having already beaten Saint Etienne and FC Zurich. It famously read: "Joey Ate The Frogs Legs, Made The Swiss Roll, Now He's Munching Gladbach." The original banner was fixed to seats behind one of the goals. Among the other Liverpool players to attend were Ian Callaghan, Howard Gayle and David Fairclough. Chelsea were represented by Mark Hughes, Thomas, Niedzwiecki, Colin Lee and Gary Chivers. Wrexham legend Arfon Griffiths led a huge contingent of former home town players Niedzwiecki sald: 'they don't make them like our Joey Joey would help anyone He was a cult hero for Chelsea.' He recalled a match between Liverpool and Chelsea at Anfield when Jones was sub for the Blues and both sets of fans chanted his name as he was so revered. Thomas drew sustained spontaneous applause when he called for a statue of Jones to be erected in Wrexham and called Jones who he had known since he was 14 as 'an incredible human being.' Liverpool.s club chaplain. Bill Bygroves recalled how Jones was a childhood Liverpool supporter and had 'Liver Bird tattoo' on his arm. He said the club and its owners sent 'heartfelt condolences" and said Jones was a 'good and humble man' and would live forever in the hearts of Liverpool fans. He said the date Jones was signed for Liverpool for just £110,000 on 14th July 1975 was a great day in the club's history. Dozens of Chelsea fans made the long trip north to pay their respects. Chelsea fan, and author, Kelvin Barker said: 'Joey was a cult hero for us at Chelsea and I know he was the same at the other clubs he played for. 'It's an honour to pay our respects alongside Wrexham, Liverpool and Huddersfield supporters. It's rare that one player can be such a hero at so many clubs -that's a real testament to Joey as a football player but more importantly as a fantastic man.' Greig Sarath, 57, from St Ives, Cambs, said: 'I had to be here to pay my respects to one of Chelsea's greatest ever characters. 'He will never be forgotten at Stamford Bridge. I'm so pleased I saw quite a few Chelsea shirts here.' The mourners were treated to passionate singing from the Fron Male Voice choir who sang the Welsh National Anthem and Abide with Me. The family asked that donations in memory of Joey are made to the British Heart Foundation, Cancer Research UK, Dementia UK and Dogs Trust.
