WREXHAM manager Denis Smith has welcomed moves to re-admit "exile" clubs to the Welsh Cup, which offers a route back to European club football.

The FA of Wales is expected to give its blessing next month to the proposal, which could come into effect at the beginning of next season.

Wrexham - who have won the famous trophy on a record 23 occasions - Cardiff City, Swansea, Colwyn Bay, Newport County and Merthyr Tydfil, who all play in the English football pyramid, have been banned from entering the Welsh Cup since the 1995-96 season.

Since then, only clubs from the Welsh Premier League have been allowed to compete in the famous old competition.

But the absence from the competition of the Football League sides, in particular, has, in some eyes, devalued its importance and the record of Welsh Premier sides in Europe has been less than impressive.

For the past six years, the BBC Wales-sponsored FAW Premier Cup tournament, involving the best clubs throughout Wales, has enjoyed a higher profile.

The FAW's change of heart, if rubber-stamped by the next full council meeting, would revive memories of famous European nights for the Dragons and provide a new opportunity to represent Wales in the Uefa Cup - providing European football's ruling body accepts that Welsh teams playing in the English leagues could represent their country.

"If we could get back in the competition and have a chance to qualify for Europe we'd be delighted," said Smith.

"I'm not sure whether the League of Wales would feel it's a good idea but, no matter what people think, there would be a better representation for Wales in Europe.

"One of the Football League teams representing Wales in Europe would reflect well on the country as a whole and show our football in the right light.

"If you put Cardiff in most European competitions they would do okay and I'm sure ourselves and Swansea would also acquit themselves well." Smith said he would be prepared to risk fixture congestion and fight through several rounds of the Welsh Cup in order to have the chance of returning the trophy to the Racecourse

"You have to give and take," he added. "We can't ask for a European place and not be prepared to play for it.

"If you want things out of life you have to work for them and we'd be prepared to work for the opportunity to play in Europe again."

* TICKETS for the inugural Wrexham First fund-raising event at the Racecourse Centenary Club on Monday evening are sell-ing well. Welsh internationals Robbie Savage and Neil Roberts, together with Wrexham midfielder Jim Whitley, are the guests at the hot-pot supper event (8pm).

Priced at £10, tickets can be bought at the club shop, the Centenary Club or from Terry, who can be contacted on 07745 053181.