Swansea and Cardiff

[W12_Ranger]

Just because Welsh clubs have been around for a while it shouldn't necessarily follow that it should always remain the case. You may or may not be aware that in that time, the people of Wales voted for a National Assembly, and have since voted for further devolved powers, which include sport. There is no reason for Welsh clubs to continue playing in English leagues for the following reasons:

1. Wales has its own football association.

2. Wales has its own national team.

3. Wales has its own national stadium.

4. Wales has its own premier league.

5. The people of Wales voted for devolved powers for sport.

It all comes down to the fact that there's no money in Welsh football. No other reason.

Who cares it really is a pointless discussion they're not going anywhere so deal with it !

[QPR Richard]

Who cares it really is a pointless discussion they're not going anywhere so deal with it !

Well, some of us wish to discuss it, you of course are perfectly free to abstain from the debate.

[Jogo]

According to Wikipedia...

Welsh teams in the English leagues
Cardiff City and Swansea City are in the Premier League, with Newport County competing in League 2. Wrexham, Colwyn Bay and Merthyr Town play their football in feeder leagues. These six teams have all played in the English football league system since their founding and all declined the offer to move into the League of Wales, now known as the Welsh Premier League, when it was founded in 1992. However, the Welsh teams Bangor City, Barry Town, Caernarfon Town, Newtown and Rhyl did move into the Welsh league system from the English league system. Welsh teams participating in the English football league system can enter the English FA Cup competition. Welsh teams participating below level 4 of the English football league system are governed by the FAW for disciplinary and administrative matters whereas Welsh teams at level 4 and above of the English football league system are administered by the English FA for the 2011–12 season onwards.[5]

From 1996 to 2011 the FAW only allowed teams in the Welsh league system to enter the Welsh Cup. Prior to 1996 Welsh teams playing in the English league system were invited to participate along with some English teams located near the Welsh border. As this rule excluded the biggest Welsh clubs from the Welsh Cup, the FAW launched the FAW Premier Cup in the 1997–98 season to include the top Welsh Premier League teams and the top Welsh teams in the English league system. The FAW Premier Cup was discontinued after the 2007–08 season. On 20 April 2011, the Football Association of Wales invited the six Welsh clubs playing in the English league system to rejoin the Welsh Cup for the 2011–12 season with Newport County, Wrexham and Merthyr Town accepting.[6] The invitation was not offered for the 2012–13 season.

There are also a number of English-based teams in the Welsh leagues, see List of association football clubs playing in the league of another country.

[GarethGardner]

[dsqpr]

According to Wikipedia...

Welsh teams in the English leagues
Cardiff City and Swansea City are in the Premier League, with Newport County competing in League 2. Wrexham, Colwyn Bay and Merthyr Town play their football in feeder leagues. These six teams have all played in the English football league system since their founding and all declined the offer to move into the League of Wales, now known as the Welsh Premier League, when it was founded in 1992. However, the Welsh teams Bangor City, Barry Town, Caernarfon Town, Newtown and Rhyl did move into the Welsh league system from the English league system. Welsh teams participating in the English football league system can enter the English FA Cup competition. Welsh teams participating below level 4 of the English football league system are governed by the FAW for disciplinary and administrative matters whereas Welsh teams at level 4 and above of the English football league system are administered by the English FA for the 2011–12 season onwards.[5]

From 1996 to 2011 the FAW only allowed teams in the Welsh league system to enter the Welsh Cup. Prior to 1996 Welsh teams playing in the English league system were invited to participate along with some English teams located near the Welsh border. As this rule excluded the biggest Welsh clubs from the Welsh Cup, the FAW launched the FAW Premier Cup in the 1997–98 season to include the top Welsh Premier League teams and the top Welsh teams in the English league system. The FAW Premier Cup was discontinued after the 2007–08 season. On 20 April 2011, the Football Association of Wales invited the six Welsh clubs playing in the English league system to rejoin the Welsh Cup for the 2011–12 season with Newport County, Wrexham and Merthyr Town accepting.[6] The invitation was not offered for the 2012–13 season.

There are also a number of English-based teams in the Welsh leagues, see List of association football clubs playing in the league of another country.

Finally, a civil response to a perfectly reasonable question, which was simply "why", not "do you agree with it".

In a nutshell, I think the answer to the OP is that they wanted to play in the English league and were allowed to. The rights or wrongs of it, well, that is another topic!