CONNAH'S QUAY NOMADS will be playing Champions League football next month.

Andy Morrison's men can plan for their first ever foray into football's biggest club competition after The New Saints lost their battle to overturn the Football Association of Wales' decision to end the Cymru Premier early with standings calculated on a points-per-game method, Nomads lifting the title as a result.

A statement from the FAW after they won their High Court battle, read: "The Football Association of Wales welcomes the positive decision of the High Court of Justice communicated today (13 July) concerning the case brought against the Association by The New Saints FC Limited, in regard to the curtailment of the 2019/20 Cymru Premier season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"The FAW is pleased with today’s judgement and its recognition that the Association’s Board of Directors acted appropriately in these unprecedented times to look after the best interests of football in Wales.

"There were no easy solutions for the board in these exceptional circumstances and their decisions were made in good faith and not based on the interests of any particular club, but the wider interests of the football community.

"Being the governing body of football in Wales during these extraordinary circumstances, the FAW has a responsibility towards everyone involved in the game and continues to be mindful of all Welsh Government Regulations, written statements and guidance as they evolve. The FAW now looks forward to continuing with its Return to Training and Play policies for the whole of Welsh football in order for the game to resume safely in the future."

Nomads boss Morrison is eager to get back out on the training pitch as soon as possible with preparations for the club's historic Champions League campaign behind schedule.

"We are two weeks behind schedule and in five weeks we play in the Champions League," said Morrison. "I hope it doesn't come back to haunt us in terms of results, because our preparation is usually meticulous and things have been taken out of our hands.

"Hopefully we can move forward and ourselves, Bala Town and Barry Town United can prepare for our European matches."

Nomads, who have Callum Morris, Michael Wilde, George Horan and Danny Harrison signed up, will find out who they are due to face in the Champions League first qualifying round, set for August 18-19, on August 9.

There was another piece of positive news for Morrison as Manchester City were cleared to play in next season’s Champions League by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

City were handed a two-year ban from European competition in February after UEFA's club financial control body (CFCB) found they had breached club licensing and Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations.

The CFCB said they had overstated sponsorship revenue in their accounts and in the break-even information submitted to UEFA for the period between 2012 and 2016.

However, CAS lifted the suspension on Monday, as it found City had not disguised equity funding as sponsorship and that most of the allegations against them were "either not established or were time-barred".

"There are times when you need to take a deep breath and trust the process," said former City skipper Morrison. "The rest of the clubs in Europe should embrace what City have done. They've fought their corner because what they were accused of was wrong."