WELSH Premier clubs' European ambitions could be hit hard by tough new Uefa licensing criteria, writes Gareth Bicknell.

Last season 12 of the league’s 18 clubs were successful in obtaining the Uefa licence, which they most hold to take part in European competition.

However, at Saturday’s Welsh Premier AGM in Llandudno, FA of Wales licensing spokesman Andrew Howard announced changes made by Uefa to the licensing criteria, which will now require clubs to employ managers trained to the governing body’s highest coaching standards, improve stadia and also upgrade their youth academies.

Uefa Licensed clubs will have to have a manager with a Uefa “Pro” Licence – which no WPL club currently has – while heads of youth academies must hold a Uefa “A” licence.

Howard said: “The problem we’ve had is that all the coaches who have attained their Pro licence with us in Cardiff are now managing in the English pyramid.

“We had two managers with the Pro licence last year but they have now both left the league.”

Clubs will also have to run a youth academy including at least four age groups: under-10s, U14s and two age groups between 15 and 21.

Uefa have also cracked down on ground criteria, so that while TNS, Rhyl, Llanelli and Carmarthen will all be able to host first-round qualifying ties in European competition, the Millennium Stadium and Swansea City’s Liberty Stadium are the only grounds in Wales which meet the criteria to host a second-round qualifying tie.

Clubs will also have to carry out medical checks on all players if they want to take part in European competition.