Coronavirus: Welsh football season ends with Connah's Quay champions

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Connah's Quay Nomads v The New SaintsImage source, NCM Media
Image caption,

Connah's Quay Nomads beat last season's champions The New Saints 1-0 in February

The Football Association of Wales (FAW) has confirmed the end of its domestic leagues because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Connah's Quay Nomads have been crowned champions of the Cymru Premier League for the first time under an unweighted points-per-game method.

Connah's Quay take Wales' spot in Champions League qualifying.

New Saints, champions the previous eight seasons, finish second, ahead of Bala in third spot.

Bala and New Saints will both go into Europa League qualifying along with Barry Town, who finish fourth and take the nominated spot for the Welsh Cup, which has been abandoned.

Promotion and relegation issues are yet to be sorted, with the FAW saying it will decide on the matter "in due course".

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Midfielder James Owen had mixed emotions after Connah's Quay secured the title for the first time in their history in such circumstances, but believes the their achievement is deserved.

"Ensuring everybody's safety is the priority but when you look at the table we've only lost two games throughout the course of the season," Owen told Radio Cymru.

"We've been playing well and we were four points clear at the top of the table and in the second half of the season we were unbeaten so we were in form and I believe we would have gone on and won the league anyway.

"I think it was the only way to decide (the league) in the end when you take everything into account and in the last game we beat The News Saints and that was the crunch game that ultimately won us the title."

Owen is now looking forward to their Champions league campaign, whenever that may be .

"We've been trying to push TNS for a while, but we just had that feeling this season that we could do it and we've shown that.

"We're looking forward now whenever we can play the Champions league qualifiers."

Swansea City Ladies have been crowned the Welsh Premier Women's League champions and will take Wales' Champions League qualifying spot.

The decision to end the season follows a consultation with clubs, who submitted their views over the weekend, with the FAW citing safety and economic concerns.

"The FAW board took into consideration the health and safety of all those involved with the leagues," the FAW said in a statement.

"Furthermore the board also considered the specific economic and financial impact of attempting to finish the season during the pandemic and therefore felt it was imperative not to risk the long-term financial stability of the leagues and their clubs."

All divisions will be settled by the points-per-game method.