TNS Europa achievement 'massive' for Cymru Premier

Craig Harrison watched his side lose in Champions League and Europa League qualifiers this season before success in the Europa Conference League play-offs

The New Saints manager Craig Harrison says reaching the Europa Conference League group stages is “massive” for Welsh domestic football.

Saints will be the first club from the top-flight Cymru Premier to feature in the group stages of a European competition following a 3-0 aggregate win over FK Panevėžys in the play-offs.

Harrison, who has guided Saints to eight Welsh titles in two spells as manager, said their achievement was a boost for the 32-year old league.

“It’s not only history for the football club but the history of Welsh domestic football,” Harrison told BBC Sport Wales.

“It’s massive – it gives everyone the opportunity to move forward.

“It’s huge, it’s brilliant.”

Former Middlesbrough and Crystal Palace player Harrison returned to the club as manager in August 2022 and last season’s Cymru Premier win was their 16th title.

Saints chairman Mike Harris became involved with the club in 1997 with a sponsorship deal which saw his company, Total Network Solutions, become the new name of village side Llansantffraid.

TNS merged with fellow League of Wales side Oswestry Town in 2003 and the club have been based in the Shropshire town since then.

Harris had previously made no secret of his ambition for Saints to become the first Welsh club to reach the groups stages of an European competition.

“We spoke two years ago – this is where he wants to be,” Harrison said.

“We’ve fulfilled his dream for him.”

Harris is also keen to stress the benefits to the Cymru Premier as a whole.

"I think the last two results we've had, the win and a draw, has actually pushed us back over the line that we get four clubs into Europe going forward," Harris told the BBC.

"That brings another club into the Europa League which is really important domestically and I also think it lights the public up to think 'hang on, perhaps Welsh football isn't the poor relation anymore', because up until now football seemed to stop at Offa's Dyke."