Football

Porthmadog appoint new manager

PORTHMADOG FC has appointed Gareth Parry as its new first team boss this week, after Tomi Morgan’s shock decision to quit and rejoin Carmarthen Town.
Morgan, who was manager of the Old Gold between November 1998 and September 2003, has returned to Richmond Park, to replace Town boss Deryn Brace.
However, Porthmadog FC has moved quickly to announce their replacement for Morgan, who was unable to prevent the Traeth club from being relegated into the Cymru Alliance last season.
Midfielder Gareth Parry (pictured left)  is currently preparing for his UEFA ‘A’ Licence, which he will complete in 12 month’s time, and has already has some experience of taking the reins at the Traeth outfit.
He took charge of the team in their North Wales Coast Cup ties at the end of last season, overseeing victories over Rhyl and Llandyrnog and, in the final at Prestatyn, the win over Llandudno Town.
Parry, who will be spending the next few days on work duties in Minneapolis, said he was keen to take up his role as soon as possible, with the FAW’s registration window being opened this week.
The new Porthmadog boss is hoping to re-sign much of last season’s squad, but is more than happy to operate the policy of giving ‘local’ players their opportunity.
“We have got an excellent Academy, and I am looking forward to helping the development of these young players,” Parry said.
“I will be happy giving young players like Dylan Williams, Jack Jones, Cai Jones, Steve Jones and others who have already proved their worth - the opportunity they deserve at Cymru Alliance level.
“However, I am also well aware this will be a very different and challenging Cymru Alliance.”
Parry, who is recovering from an ankle operation, has revealed that he hopes to continue playing, and is hoping to announce the appointment of an assistant shortly.
He has confirmed that he will also be looking to strengthen his squad and hopes to return to the policy of having the full squad training together twice a week.
A number of pre-season friendly fixtures have already been pencilled in, with Airbus UK being provisionally book in for Saturday, 24 July, followed by fixtures against Welsh Premier club Aberystwyth Town on Tuesday, 27 July, and Newtown on Saturday, 31 July.
Meanwhile former manager Morgan is all set for a sudden return to the Welsh Premier, following the decision of Deryn Brace to step down at Carmarthen Town.
Morgan, who took over from Paul Whelan at Porthmadog in February 2009, was the player-manager of Aberystwyth in the first season of the domestic league.
After then managing Rhayader Town, he spent six seasons at Carmarthen, leading the club to the Welsh Cup final and into Europe.
However, he was sacked early into season 2003/4 after a string of poor results and had a brief spell on the coaching staff at Barry Town, he managed Welshpool Town for more than four years before being relieved of his duties.
Porthmadog chairman Phil Jones has said that, while Morgan’s decision came came as a disappointment, he would be leaving the club on the most amicable terms.
Last season, Porthmadog were one of six Welsh Premier League clubs to be relegated into Cymru Alliance, after failing to qualify for the new Super 12 set-up.
The Traeth club finished fourth-from-bottom, some 17 points adrift of 13th-placed Newtown.
The new-look Cymru Alliance will consist of the following 16 clubs next season; Buckley Town; Caersws; Elements Cefn Druids; Flint Town United; Gap Connah’s Quay; Guilsfield; Llandudno; Llangefni Town; Penrhyncoch; Porthmadog; Rhayader Town; Rhos Aelwyd; Rhydymwyn; Rhyl; Ruthin; Technogroup Welshpool.