COLIN Caton has been reappointed as the manager of Bala Town Football Club, and will be assisted by current manager Steve O’Shaughnessy from next season.

Caton joined the Maes Tegid club in the summer of 2003 and has now had a 529 match association with the club, leading the team in the Wrexham Area League, Cymru Alliance, Welsh Premier League and into the Europa League.

"I have worked extremely hard in my 13 years at Bala Town, and I'm delighted to be appointed as manager of the team once again," said Caton.

"I am now undertaking the UEFA Pro Licence, and I feel I have a great partnership alongside Steve O’Shaughnessy and Stephen Fisher.

"Steve has done really well in his first season at Maes Tegid and a lot of credit must be given to Stephen Fisher who has stepped up as a coach and someone I have also a good working relationship with."

Earlier this month, the club confirmed that Caton, who is currently the Director of Football, will be one of the candidates taking part in this year’s UEFA Pro Licence course with the Welsh Football Trust.

After successfully passing his ‘A’ Licence in March 2015, Caton will earn the highest football coaching qualification - under the leadership of Osian Roberts, Wales Assistant Manager.

“I feel privileged and honoured to be accepted onto the Pro Licence course, and to have the opportunity to be rubbing shoulders with the greats of world football," said Caton.

"To work with Osian Roberts, who has played a major part in Wales’ qualification to the 2016 Euro Championship, it’s a great opportunity to gain the highest qualification in world football.”

Caton took over the reins at Bala in 2003 when the club was struggling in the lower reaches of the Welsh National (Wrexham Area) League, and gained promotion to the Cymru Alliance at the first attempt in 2004.

After successive runners-up finishes in 2007 and 2008, Caton’s side clinched the title and promotion to the top flight in 2009.

He steered Bala into the Europa League though the Play-Offs in 2013, and the Lakesiders finished as runners-up to TNS in the league 2015 to secure their return to Europe last season.

Bala’s chief Executive Nigel Aykroyd said that everyone connected to the club was delighted by this news.

"Colin has been at the forefront of driving Bala Town forward since his initial appointment as manager some 13 years ago, and his drive and commitment have been instrumental in one of North Wales’ most historic footballing achievements," he said.

"We are delighted at this recognition of Colin’s progression to the very highest level of Technical Coaching qualification. We sincerely thank the FAW for their support in this successful application.”