· Has the requirement for domestic and UEFA licences contributed in any way to improving the infrastructure of WPL clubs, and if so, how?/ A yw’r gofyniad i gael trwydded ddomestig a thrwydded UEFA wedi cyfrannu mewn unrhyw ffordd at wella seilwaith clybiau Uwch Gynghrair Cymru ac os felly, sut?

Domestic and UEFA licences have certainly benefited clubs in the Premier League, and those not in the league.

First, they have forced every club to establish a solid base for its infrastructure, from the Academy to the first team. The criteria are clear and tangible, with every part being relevant to every club. This establishes a basis on which to make decisions.

I would like to thank the FAW’s licensing team for its support and willingness to assist in attempting to ensure that the goal is reached every year.

Its greatest benefit, in my opinion, is to ensure that it is the most ambitious clubs that can benefit from this. With the licence being used to bring the league down to 12 teams, in the past, only those with the vision could fulfill the requirements. Therefore, it is the clubs that have the best facilities and infrastructure within football in Wales that have survived.

It sets a goal for clubs outside the Premier League to aim for. Perhaps it is now time to consider these clubs and to give them more opportunities to reach their goals.

First, a debate should be held again on the number of clubs in the Premier League. It has already been noted that Carmarthen Football Club favours having 16 clubs and that it is time to consider this.

Secondly, there are clubs that are given a domestic licence that are prevented from accessing the Premier League because only one team from south Wales and one from north Wales can be promoted. We feel that the teams in the north are more ambitious than those in the south.

· Do you have any views on the FAW Strategic Plan, published in January 2012, and the way in which it relates to the WPL?/ A oes gennych farn ynghylch Cynllun Strategol Cymdeithas Bêl-droed Cymru, a gyhoeddwyd ym mis Ionawr 2012, a sut y mae’n berthnasol i Uwch Gynghrair Cymru?

Again, the content of the Strategic Plan needs to be discussed further. We believe that more input is needed from the members of the Premier League so that there is an agreed vision for the future. One meeting is not enough to ensure that that happens.

We strongly believe in development but there must be common agreement on the way forward.  

· You say that the Welsh Government should ‘do its bit in supporting our Premier League’. What would be the most effective form of support it could provide and what would you wish to see the Government doing in this respect?/ Yr ydych yn dweud y dylai Llywodraeth Cymru wneud ei rhan drwy gefnogi ein Huwch Gynghrair. Beth fyddai’r gefnogaeth fwyaf effeithiol y gallai ei chynnig a beth yr hoffech weld y Llywodraeth yn ei wneud yn hyn o beth?

Apart from direct funding, practical support for clubs must be considered. As most Premier League clubs are run by volunteers, there is often no specialist knowledge in searching for additional funding sources.

The FAW’s Grow Your Club initiative was laudable, but it did not solve the problem as its suggestions were not clear enough.  

Clubs need a clear list of funding sources, with additional assistance on how to fill in the application forms in order to utilise these sources.

We hope that these meetings will be the first step on the path to ensuring that assistance is recieved. However, a discussion is needed to draw up a five-year plan for the league, regarding how to expand it to include more teams in order to make it more viable. Unfortunately, the clubs cannot do this without assistance.

County Councils need to be directed to support their clubs in a practical way. Carmarthenshire County Council must be applauded for attempting to do this.

What input has the Welsh Government had in the Strategic Plan? Does the FAW need political representation or does the Premier League need a politican on its management board? These are all questions for you and it will be interesting to hear your response.

· Can you expand on your comments that the Welsh Government should support Wales’s independent position within FIFA? What specific actions should it be taking in this regard and what role does the WPL have to play in safeguarding this status?/ A allwch ymhelaethu ar eich sylwadau y dylai Llywodraeth Cymru gefnogi safle annibynnol Cymru yn FIFA? Pa gamau penodol y dylai fod yn eu cymryd yn hyn o beth a beth yw swyddogaeth Uwch Gynghrair Cymru o ran diogelu’r statws hwn?

The Olympic Games have brought this to the attention of the media once again. Wales’s independence within FIFA’s ranks must be defended. The comments made by the representative of the English FA has not assisted Wales, and the situation needs to be resolved.

Again, the partnership between the Welsh Government and the FAW, if it exists, needs to be addressed. Transparency within this relationship needs to be ensured.

Wales (and Cardiff specifically) benefits from having a national team. Players such as Aaron Ramsey and Gareth Bale are known throughout the world. They must be used to attract support for the national team and also draw people to the capital.

It is a great honour for Carmarthen Football Club to stage three games at Richmond Park in August 2013 as part of the UEFA championships for women under 19. We are already working alongside the local tourism board and the County Council to publicise the area throughout Europe.  

Cardiff will certainly benefit when the 2014 World Cup preliminary games are held. This is an economic reason for protecting the independence of our national team.

The Premier League has a key role in this. As we compete in Europe, the aim is to try to improve our status within UEFA. As the national team, and hopefully our results in Europe, improve, our UEFA rank will rise, ensuring a more favourable situation for clubs and the international team in Wales. 

· What are your views on the work the FAW and WPL is undertaking with respect to tackling racism and homophobia in football and in reaching out to more diverse footballing communities (such as women, BME people and LGB people)?/ Beth yw eich barn am y gwaith y mae Cymdeithas Bêl-droed Cymru ac Uwch Gynghrair Cymru yn ei wneud i fynd i’r afael â hiliaeth a homoffobia yn y byd pêl-droed ac i gyrraedd cymunedau pêl-droed mwy amrywiol (megis menywod, pobl dduon a lleiafrifoedd ethnig a phobl lesbiaid, hoyw a deurywiol)?

Carmarthen Football Club has incorporated the FAW’s attempt to tackle racism and homophobia in the football world. As a club, we welome the Show Racism the Red Card team to Richmond Park every year. This year, over 60 local primary school pupils from the area were made aware of social problems.

The sessions are lively and the participants are full of enthusiasm. I have made suggestions regarding developing the structure of the initiative.  

The advantage for us is that school pupils now use the community centre, not only to play football, but to expand their knowledge and to discuss contentious issues.

Learning through football is effective. It is given a great deal of coverage in the media and it is an effective way of conveying positive messages. It is perhaps an area to develop further.