Welsh EFL clubs' hopes of competing in Europe have been dashed after the Football Association on Friday blocked attempts to allow those playing in the English leagues to participate in the Welsh League Cup.

The new-look Welsh League Cup has been granted a Conference League qualification spot by UEFA and the Football Association of Wales (FAW) had wanted the EFL’s Welsh clubs – Cardiff, Swansea, Wrexham and Newport – to participate.

However, the English FA board has rejected the proposal.

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A statement from the FA sent to the PA news agency read: “The FA board has considered a request made by four Welsh clubs to take part in a restructured version of the FAW League Cup which would provide an opportunity to qualify for UEFA competition.

“As part of the request, the Welsh clubs would forfeit their existing right to qualify for UEFA club competitions through the English system whilst they remained members of the EFL.

“The Welsh clubs would then seek to qualify for UEFA competition via the English system should they be promoted to the Premier League.

“As a result of the request, the FA undertook a thorough consultation with stakeholders and invited submissions from the Welsh clubs.

“Following careful consideration, taking into account various factors including equal opportunity for clubs to participate in the same competitions, for the same rewards on an equal basis; concerns raised by stakeholders regarding competition integrity, fixture congestion and player welfare, and the impact on the standing of existing competitions, the FA board has rejected the request.

“It was noted that it is open to the Welsh clubs to choose whether or not to participate in the English or Welsh system based on their own assessment of the relative merits of participation in each system, but if they choose to participate in the English system they must do so on the same basis as the English clubs which participate in that system.”