Until the 2001–02 season, Merthyr Tydfil had a guaranteed place, as Newport County and Colwyn Bay were not invited to take part.
From the 2004–05 season, the competition was expanded to 16 clubs – the top 10 placed clubs from the Welsh Premier League, joined by the two best-placed of the three teams: Newport County, Merthyr Tydfil and Colwyn Bay, the Welsh Cup winners plus Cardiff City, Swansea City and Wrexham.
A share of the TV coverage money for live matches was also split between both clubs.
The only Welsh Premier League clubs to have played in the final are Barry Town, Rhyl, The New Saints and Llanelli.
[3] In the 2011-12 season the FAW announced that the six exiled clubs would again be invited to play in the Welsh Cup.