FAW approves English-tier club Colwyn Bay's return to Welsh leagues

Colwyn Bay moved to their Llanelian Road home in 1984

Colwyn Bay's return from the English Pyramid to the Welsh leagues has been approved as the club seeks to ease financial worries.

The Football Association Wales has accepted the switch so the Seagulls will leave Northern Premier League Division One West.

They will play in the new Football Association of Wales Tier Two League.

Colwyn Bay will join 16 other clubs at that level and also enter the JD Welsh Cup at the first stage in October.

"We are pleased to have been allocated a place in Tier 2 next season and look forward to the challenge ahead," manager Craig Hogg said.

"I know first hand how difficult and competitive that level of domestic football is in Wales and nothing will be taken for granted."

Hogg recently signed a new five year contact with the club while his assistant Neil Coverley will step up to the role of director of football next season.

The Bay left the Welsh football league after the 1983-84 season.

In 1991 the club was ordered to cease playing in Wales by the Football Association of Wales after refusing to join the League of Wales and were forced to play in exile in Northwich and Ellesmere Port.

But they were allowed to return to their Llanelian Road home in 1994 after winning a High Court case against the FAW.

After the club's shareholders voted in favour of joining the Welsh leagues, chairman Billy Murray said: "My main concern was that the club survived and the only way that was going to happen was by going into the Welsh system.

"If we stay in England we won't survive as a club.

"The immediate task is to focus on seeing out the remainder of the season, and then work starts in earnest on formulating a plan to take the club forward."