WANDERERS must win the Carling Cup to qualify for Europe by that route.

Suggestions that a runners' up spot in the final of the Carling Cup would be enough to secure a place in next season's UEFA Cup competition have been discounted by the Premier League.

It was originally thought that if Arsenal were to reach the final of the competition and also secure a Champions' League place due to their league standing, then whoever reached the final alongside the Gunners would be awarded a UEFA Cup place regardless of the result.

But a Premiership spokesman told www.bwfc.co.uk: "If Arsenal won the Carling Cup and also qualified for the Champions League, the League Cup place does not go to the runner-up.

"Instead it would go to the highest placed League team that hadn't qualified for Europe by other means."