Highs and lows

By Ian Gwyn Hughes
BBC Wales Football Editor

So it was not to be for Cardiff City against Portsmouth, but it was a truly memorable FA Cup run and a great day out at Wembley.

Jones can be proud of Cardiff's season despite FA Cup final defeat

Dave Jones' side troubled Portsmouth during the early stages and with a bit more sharpness in front of goal, who knows what could have happened?

And while Cardiff City can enjoy and reflect on the day for a while, Jones will no doubt already be looking to next season.

The big question now is what will happen to some of the younger players, the likes of Joe Ledley and Aaron Ramsey.

Both have shown that they have the ability to play at a higher level and it would be a great surprise if both were still at Ninian Park come August.

The ideal scenario as far as Ramsey would be concerned would be a big-money move, Manchester United rumoured to be seriously interested and then being loaned back to Cardiff.

Next season the level of expectation will increase, supporters will want the team to reach the play-offs and follow the example of Hull City and Bristol City.

But as Jones said immediately after the final at Wembley, the Championship is getting stronger and stronger and is a very difficult league to get out of.

Which leads us on to Swansea City. There is little doubt that the Swans this season were a cut above League One.

606: DEBATE Let's all toast Dave Jones & Roberto Martinez for giving genuine Welsh football fans a season to be proud of wynftheswan

Manager Roberto Martinez assembled a side that had class and confidence, with striker Jason Scotland proving to be an exceptional signing.

But come August it will be a very different challenge and it will be a test of the Spaniard's managerial qualities.

No doubt he will be looking to emulate Gary Johnson at Bristol City, who made such an impact in the Championship after their promotion.

And of course as far as south Wales football fans are concerned there is the mouth-watering prospect of two derby matches next season.

But now Wales is down to two Football League clubs.

The oldest professional club, Wrexham, lost its League status and now has to adjust to life as a non-League side.

The big question is, can they bounce back at the first attempt under manager Brian Little?

In short the answer is 'yes' but it will not be easy.

Certainly the team should win more matches and at least be challenging for a play-off spot.

Neil Roberts was one of the players released after Wrexham's drop

Little has ripped the squad apart and now needs to bring players into the Racecourse Ground who have non-League pedigree.

Exeter have bounced back and I am certain Wrexham will do one day. But at the first attempt? I have my doubts.

And this season sees the Wales national side begin their qualifying campaign for the World Cup finals in South Africa under manager John Toshack.

At the end of May as part of the preparation Wales travel to Iceland and the Netherlands.

Toshack has named a squad of 35 which again includes plenty of young uncapped players.

Several of course are still eligible to play for Brian Flynn's Wales Under-21 side who are hoping to qualify for the European Championship finals for the first time.

No doubt the coming season will throw up a few surprises because, let us be honest, how many of us last August would have predicted that Cardiff City would reach an FA Cup final, Swansea City win the League One title and Wrexham would have dropped out of the Football League?