'Time will tell' on Friday Cymru Premier project

Caernarfon Town won the Welsh Cup for the first time in their history in 2025-26 [FAW] Caernarfon Town manager Richard Davies says "only time will tell" whether the Cymru Premier's move to Friday night games will succeed or not. Football Association of Wales (FAW) chief executive Noel Mooney says moving to predominantly Friday night games is a bid to boost attendances. Welsh Cup holders Caernarfon have traditionally been one of the best supported clubs in the league, which has been revamped for next season. "For me I would like to just to see the north play the north on Fridays to start off with and then try and integrate maybe to the south a couple of games," Davies said. "But they seem to be going full tilt from the off and we'll see how it goes." The switch to more Friday night games is part of a major relaunch for Wales' domestic top flight, with the number of clubs rising from 12 to 16 next season. The plan has received a mixed response from clubs and supporters, with Mooney acknowledging some part-time players may struggle to travel on Fridays. "In one way, I get it," said Davies, who was a guest on the latest edition of BBC Radio Cymru's Y Coridor Ansicrwydd podcast. "I think the way that the FAW see that is basically the product that sells everything is the Friday night game so trying to get more fans through the gates. "There's nowhere more than the Oval that can attract more on a Friday than a Saturday due to the teams not playing themselves and everything else. "I suppose you might get 50, 100 fans maybe that would come from the home side more but maybe you might lose 30, 40 Caernarfon fans that would travel. "So, yeah, it's that trade-off, and only time will tell if it's successful or not. "For the players' side of it, maybe, and as a manager, the professionalism does go out the window a little bit, unless you are TNS that are able to travel the night before. "Where we used to have team meetings and stuff in the hotel the day before we now have to do it in dressing rooms after travelling four hours in the car. "I'm sure there'll be teething problems along the way." The Oval in Caernarfon will host three games in the upcoming Uefa Men's Under-19 Championships, which is being hosted in north Wales [FAW] Before the new-look Cymru Premier starts, Caernarfon will be in European action following their Welsh Cup final win over Flint Town United in April. This will be Caernarfon's second campaign in the Uefa Conference League in three seasons having reached the second qualifying round in 2024. Bangor's Nantporth Stadium hosted their European home games two years ago but their own Oval ground will host their tie against Estonia's Levadia Tallinn next month. The Oval had undergone major work ahead of the upcoming Uefa Men's Under-19 Championships being held in north Wales. Work included a new pitch which meant Davies' side had to play all their home games in Llandudno last season. "As anybody that knows the Oval, it did have a bit of a slope so that's now gone and it's looking fantastic," Davies added. "Fair play to Llandudno, they were a fantastic host for us last year. "It doesn't quite have the same feel and play the same atmosphere as we can do at the Oval. "I think if you ask any Caernarfon fan, player or one of the board members, we all want to come home to Caernarfon. "Very much looking forward to coming back home."