APPEAL TO PLATINI OVER WALES 'BIG THREE' EURO EXILE
Chris Wathan - Wales On Sunday

WELSH football chiefs will meet Michel Platini for high-level Uefa talks next month to discuss a European return for our big three.

FAW secretary general David Collins will sit down with the Uefa president to thrash out a way of seeing Cardiff, Swansea and Wrexham get back into Europe.

The Welsh FA reckon it's the perfect time to tackle the thorny issue that has seen the Football League trio banned from Euro action for 13 years.

Their plan will see all of the teams playing in the English system making a dramatic return to the Welsh Cup.

And Collins - who has long campaigned for a way back for the teams - believes Platini's willingness to change the European order could make it happen.

Speaking exclusively to Wales on Sunday, Collins said: "We have a meeting arranged with Monsieur Platini for next month and we hope to explore the situation with him and Uefa's general secretary.

"Obviously there has been an indication that Platini has looked to encourage smaller footballing nations and that is why we are having this meeting to explore our situation.

"We are hopeful but obviously we just don't know.

"But we wish to see the English-based clubs represent Wales again in Europe should they win the Welsh Cup."

If Platini sympathises with the Welsh plight, he would then have to take it to the executive committee of European football's governing body in an effort to end the big three's exile.

Strict Uefa club licensing rules brought an end to the adventures in Europe of our Football League clubs in 1995, the laws stating only clubs playing within the boundaries of their national associations could be nominated for competitions like the Uefa Cup.

And the English FA have long stated that they would never give up a European place to a Welsh club, even if Cardiff, Swansea or Wrexham won the Premier League or FA Cup.

Collins has previously described the unique situation as "grossly unfair" and "one of European football's biggest challenges".

But it was the FAW which banished those who couldn't qualify from the competition. Yet now they are ready to push for a return of Cardiff, Swansea and Wrexham - as well as Newport, Merthyr and Colwyn Bay.

Should the issue get the green light after March's meeting at the Uefa headquarters in Nyon, the potential return of the six English pyramid clubs would then have to go before the rest of the FAW.

But the boost of seeing Cardiff stars like Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink or the Championship-bound Swans in the 130-year-old competition would surely receive the backing of all involved, ensuring bigger TV deals, bigger gates and a high-profile final.

And it would be a welcome boost with the news the BBC Wales-backed FAW Premier Cup could be scrapped, a Beeb spokesman this week admitting: "The tournament was established to bring together all Welsh football clubs, irrespective of which league they played their football from week to week.

"However, in recent seasons in particular, the priority afforded the tournament by some participants has diluted the quality of the competition.

"As a result, BBC Wales has decided to discontinue coverage of the tournament after the current season."

WREXHAM'S LITTLE BIG MAN
Chris Wathan - Wales On Sunday

NOW is the time for Brian Little to show he really is the big man - because that is just what Wrexham need.

The person who sits in the manager's office at the Racecourse certainly has the calibre.

Anyone who doubts that only has to cast an eye towards Wembley today to remember that the last Englishman to win any major trophy and still be in employment is the man charged with saving the Red Dragons' Football League status.

But Little himself acknowledges the success of one cup final provides little comfort ahead of the 16 that will soon follow for the North Wales outfit.

Keeping Wrexham in the Football League is all about the here and now.

"It's a nice recognition," admits the former Aston Villa boss. "You can go further because I'm not so sure how long it's been since an English manager took a club to fourth and fifth place in the Premier League in successive seasons and to the quarter-finals of the Uefa Cup either.

"But I'm not the type of person who looks backwards, has regrets or laments anything.

"I'd like to think I could describe myself as someone who has always done what he's wanted to do.

"When you look at my management stats I think I've done reasonably well and my record stands up against others.

"I've done what I've done at the top and that's part and parcel of me as a manager; and I've also managed at the lower levels and I've no shame in that.

"I've always been quite happy to face these kind of challenges and I don't think there's many managers who can go around saying that."

Possibly because few others would fancy getting their hands as dirty as Little has done since accepting Wrexham's offer last November.

He soon promised to rip the side up and start again, the January transfer window proving his words were anything but hollow as a blur of new faces freshened up a jaded Dragons squad.

Yet, while the improvements have been obvious, the spectre of slipping out of the league very much remains.

You have to wonder why a manager of his credentials would feel the need to back himself and his reputation into such a corner.

"For whatever reason I didn't get the opportunity to go back to the top," reflects Little, a man rated highly by some of the best in the game, including Sir Alex Ferguson. "I accept that, but still I enjoy what I'm doing, otherwise I wouldn't be doing it.

"Certain circumstances, which I don't always go in to, changed my life.

"I decided when the opportunity at Tranmere came along to get back into the game. I did well but then had one difficult season and left by mutual consent.

"After that happened, I have to be honest, I was surprised I wasn't offered more jobs.

"I'm not the type of person who goes around throwing my hat into the ring for all sorts of jobs, it's not my style, but in the modern day it seems that's what you've got to do.

"I was quite happy doing what I was doing with the media - but the call came from Wrexham and the challenge excited me. It still does."

It's a genuine enthusiasm, but so is the challenge.

Before yesterday's visit of Grimsby, Wrexham could boast just 24 points from 29 games played.

It's difficult to work out whether the figures from this time last year (played 33, points 31) were better or the same.

What is simple to work out is that averages over the last five years suggest 45 points are needed to survive - and that's seven wins away.

Wrexham, before yesterday, had achieved six all year.

Like anyone in his profession, Little harbours ambitions of returning to the top, but recognises daydreaming does not help his or his club's current situation.

"There are only so many games to go to try and keep this side in the Football League; that's the be-all and end-all right now," he says. "And each game will determine the sort of strategy we take on; we have to be flexible.

"We might have an overall strategy of how we think we're going to survive, but we've got to remain flexible and willing to roll with the punches."

Having already been on the end of quite a few, more punches will invariably follow before now and May.

The recent blows of seeing games against League Two's top two, MK Dons and Hereford, being called off was in itself a blow, slowing the momentum - at a time when several of their rivals are finding some - and increasing the importance of an already crucial April.

Now, instead of a string of games against sides looking over their shoulders, Little will have to cope with two more tests from teams at the top. Given his experience, Little knows the importance of avoiding the hysteria should things go to the wire.

"That's important. People look at a run of home games like we have now and think there are three wins there," he adds.

"But we've not won three games like that all season. It's not the easiest thing in the world to do but I have to make sure I can still look at things sensibly and logically whatever happens.

"But teams have shown that three or four wins in a row and you can start climbing your way out of trouble.

"The sad fact of this league is that not everybody is going to do that.

"If it takes going to last game of season, well so be it - as long as this club stays in the Football League."

Should that happen, perhaps his Carling Cup triumph will be joined by a successful survival battle on the Little CV.

But what of the future?

It seems Little is a man who sees job satisfaction as an equal to ambition.

"At this moment I'd genuinely like to carry this on," he admits. "But that's not been a subject any of us have dwelled on here for any length of time.

"My one aim is keeping this team in this league; we'll see what's talked about after that. But I like the club, it's a good club with good people and I'm desperate to do well for them."

It's a big ask, but Little can be the big man.

UNBEATEN DRAGONS LANGUISH AT THE BOTTOM
Wales On Sunday

IT says much of Wrexham's progress since the turn of the year that yesterday's bore draw can be considered a missed opportunity in their desperate fight for survival.

Victory would have hauled Brian Little's revived side closer to safety.

The fact they didn't shouldn't be considered a failure as the opposition were no mugs.

Without defeat on the road in League Two since early November, play-off chasing Grimsby came to the Racecourse looking for a point.

And they got one with a stubborn defensive display that ensured they didn't go the way of Darlington and MK Dons, who have lost at the famous old ground in recent weeks.

The stalemate ensured the Dragons extended their unbeaten run to six - their last loss coming at the Mariners - but it also highlighted the importance of Neil Roberts.

The talismanic Roberts, revelling in his new midfield role, is facing a short spell on the sidelines after twisting his ankle in training.

And his team missed his drive in the centre of the park, although his absence meant Jeff Whitley was handed his first start since returning to the club following his well-publicised battle to exorcise his drink and drug demons.

And the former Cardiff man did not let Little down, although it was clear he is still short of match fitness.

The Wrexham boss also recalled fit-again left-wingback Carl Tremarco in place of teenager Neil Taylor in the only other change to the side that had drawn 0-0 at Peterborough two weeks earlier.

Clearly intent on making up for lost time after seeing trips to Hereford and the Dons postponed due to the cold snap, the Dragons started like a house of fire.

A bit of head tennis from Chris Llewellyn and Stuart Nicholson provided an opening for Drewe Broughton, but the big striker - captain in his final match before his loan expires - could only fire straight at Phil Barnes from the edge of the area.

Nicholson, playing wide to the right of Broughton, was Wrexham's main outlet before the break.

He was denied a clear goalscoring opportunity by a last-gasp interception by the Holywell-raised Nick Fenton, before he had a shot deflected wide following fancy footwork by Llewellyn.

Nicholson also collected a neat, volleyed pass from Simon Spender to cross for Tremarco, whose header looped over.

The Dragons, playing into the wind, could not keep the tempo up though, and Grimsby began to show glimpses of why they are a fighting for a top-seven spot.

Wingers Nick Hegarty and Ciaran Toner grew in influence, with the latter of that duo forcing Gavin Ward into his first save of the afternoon with a 25-yard scorcher, although Irishman Toner injured himself in the process and failed to reappear after the restart.

That summed up a half of frustration for the small band of visiting supporters. Not that the home fans could say they were thoroughly entertained in 45 minutes lacking in quality, hardly helped by the strong gale and the fact the surface was littered with sand in a bid to assist with drainage.

Wrexham took the initiative at the start of the second half but were still finding it hard to get behind a Mariners unbeaten away from home in eight games.

Little responded by replacing the tiring Whitley with Sam Aiston, and, moments later, Broughton and Nicholson with Rob Duffy and top-scorer Michael Proctor.

Little's counterpart Alan Buckley also tried to inject some life into the contest by withdrawing Peter Till in favour of Chester-born former Tranmere Rovers striker Gary Jones.

None could make an immediate impact, however, and it needed regular updates of Wales' demolition of Italy in the Six Nations to keep the spirits of the Racecourse faithful high.

But the loudest cheer would have been reserved for Proctor had his vicious late strike curled into the top corner instead of just over.