Wrexham are among four Welsh EFL clubs who could benefit from a new route to qualify for European football.

The FAW has this Monday outlined how the ambitious League One outfit, owned by Hollywood actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, could take part in a revamped version of the Welsh League Cup.

Alongside Cardiff City, Swansea City and Newport County, the Red Dragons would compete with the 12 JD Cymru Premier teams to win the tournament.

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Whoever lifts the trophy would then go on to play in the qualifying rounds of a UEFA competition, understood to be the Conference League.

The FAW is fully behind the plans, known as Project Cymru, which it says could generate an extra £3million per season for Welsh football and improve Wales' co-efficient for European competitions.

However, the proposals are not without controversy, with Wrexham's former owners expressing concerns last week that it could jeopardise the club's future in the EFL.

As the plans enter a crucial stage, Wales Online examines what they would mean in practice and why approval is far from guaranteed.

How did the plans come about?

Swansea were one of the original driving forces behind the idea, which was first revealed last autumn. The Championship side commissioned an independent report by Deloitte, highlighting the "transformational" impact it would have on the Welsh game.

Wrexham, Cardiff and Swansea were all reported to be immediately on board with the talks. Newport took more convincing, as per the BBC, in light of their previous High Court battle against the FAW in 1995 to stay in the English pyramid, but eventually came round to the idea.

How will the proposals work?

The EFL clubs can only currently qualify for European competitions via the FA Cup, EFL Cup or Premier League, but the new plans would see them potentially enter via the Welsh League Cup instead.

While they would continue to play in the English pyramid, they would sacrifice their ability to reach Europe through the avenues mentioned above.

The new Welsh competition would see the clubs compete alongside Cymru Premier sides in a 16-team, four-round knockout tournament.

As with the criteria for the EFL Trophy, they would be required to meet player experience standards to ensure they field a strong team. The FAW hopes to introduce the new format from the start of next season.

What are the benefits?

This week is the first time the FAW has really outlined the benefits in detail. It's very much a sales pitch to try and convince the relevant bodies that this is a good idea.

It's hoped the revamped Welsh League Cup could generate an additional £3m per season for the game across Wales. The four EFL clubs have agreed to exclude any profit derived from representing Wales in Europe for financial regulations in the EFL or English Premier League.

The qualification of an EFL team could also help to improve Wales' co-efficient for European competitions, which is currently among the lowest in Europe, due to the likelihood of them progressing further.

Why is it controversial?

From a Welsh perspective, there appear to be few drawbacks to the plans, which will give the EFL clubs a greater chance of qualifying for Europe.

Likewise, the fact that any increased revenue will be redistributed means Cymru Premier clubs have unanimously supported their introduction into the tournament.

However, the status of Wrexham, Swansea, Cardiff and Newport within the English football system is the most problematic element. The Wrexham Supporters Trust (WST), which owned the Red Dragons for almost a decade before the club's Hollywood transformation, sounded the alarm over this last week.

A spokesperson said: “The board’s position is that while we’d love to see Wrexham play in European competitions again if that meant that our continued membership of the EFL was in any way threatened, we are against it.”

It's understood the four EFL clubs have sought assurances from the FA that their status within the English system is safe. The idea has been met with some opposition from within the English game, where one club executive is claimed to have accused the teams of wanting to "have their Welsh cake and eat it", according to the Daily Mail.

Meanwhile, The Athletic reports that the EFL itself is also far from convinced after publishing an article stating: “When asked for feedback by the FA, the EFL board advised the English governing body to withhold approval, citing concerns about the integrity of its competition, the congested calendar and commercial impact.”

What is the main barrier?

The plans have now reached an important stage after being discussed with UEFA, the Secretary of State for Wales and the Welsh Government.

The requirement for the proposals to go to before the full English FA board for approval is without doubt the biggest mountain to climb. It was initially believed a sub-committee would examine the case, but this was changed "due to the importance and significance of the topic".

English clubs have been informed they will be able to have their say as part of the consultation process. It's understood that the Welsh EFL clubs are privately doubtful over how likely the proposals are to be approved.

What have Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney said?

Wrexham's co-owners have not directly commented on the plans, but director Shaun Harvey has previously discussed the club's backing.

Wrexham have taken part in some memorable games in Europe over the years, including a famous victory over Portuguese giants Porto in the European Cup Winners Cup in 1984.

Harvey told The Leader newspaper in October: “We are interested because we have got an obligation to give the club the best chance of success.

“The club, like the other three clubs, is steeped in European history, albeit going back over a period of time. If those days can return to Wrexham at some stage in the future then it’s another step on a remarkable journey.”

What has the FAW said?

FAW chief executive Noel Mooney said: “This will be a game-changer for the development of the game as we work to unlock the full potential of Welsh football.

“It will unite Welsh football, improve the game at all levels, and deliver meaningful societal benefits across Wales making our clubs and communities more sustainable.

“It will generate significant additional revenue through a revamped Welsh League Cup competition with expanded participation of the four highest-ranked Welsh clubs that participate in the English football pyramid.

“This will be distributed throughout the JD Cymru Premier, Genero Adran Premier (Wales’ top women’s league) and grassroots facilities across the country.”

When will a decision be made?

The FA has yet to announce a date for when a decision will be taken, but it will need to be soon if the FAW's hopes of introducing the new format from next season are to be realised.