FAW offer Merthyr £6m to join Cymru Premier

Welsh football bosses have offered Merthyr Town a deal worth up to £6m to join Wales' top domestic league.

The Football Association of Wales want the Martyrs to leave the English non-league system and join an expanded Cymru Premier in 2026.

They are the only remaining non-league club from Wales in the English set-up, along with the English Football League (EFL) clubs Swansea City, Cardiff City, Wrexham and Newport County.

As a fan-owned club, members are due to vote on the FAW's proposal - originally made last November - by the end of January.

And Welsh football's governing body have written to owners outlining the compensation Merthyr would get for leaving the English system and incentives for joining the Cymru Premier.

In the letter, the FAW say they would commit £2m towards improving the infrastructure of Merthyr's Penydarren Park home.

They say they would try to double that figure to £4m by securing match funding from government bodies and local authorities.

The FAW say they would also guarantee Merthyr an annual payment of £250,000 over five years for competing in the Cymru Premier, plus an additional £30,000 for the 2026-27 season for any drop in attendances.

There would also be £25,000 towards Merthyr's 4G pitch fund, and up to £40,000 for the installation of a new television gantry.

The FAW say the total financial package is worth £5.95m.

Tempting Merthyr to join the Cymru Premier is part of the FAW's plan to revamp the division, having previously announced the league will expand to 16 teams and include a new end-of-season split into three divisions from 2026-27.

Wales' top flight currently consists of 12 clubs and, after each plays home and away, the league splits into two divisions of six.

Whether Merthyr fans would be tempted to join it - regardless of the seemingly generous financial package on offer - is another matter.

The club cherish their unique situation in the English system, and are in a strong position to be promoted to National League South - the sixth tier of the English game.

They are currently nine points clear at the top of Southern League Premier South after a crowd of 1,744 turned up at Penydarren Park for Tuesday's 1-1 draw with AFC Totton.

Merthyr say they will not comment on the financial incentives offered by the FAW until discussing the matter at a club board meeting next week.