PENRHYNCOCH manager Gari Lewis admits the departure of club captain Owain James will be a big loss for the Spar Mid Wales League division one title chasers.

James has been an influential figure for the Roosters with his defensive work and wholehearted efforts, but he has played his last game for at least two months to take up a job as a shearing contractor in New Zealand.

“Penbanc (James) will be a huge loss for us, both as captain and as a player,” said Lewis. “He’s a strong, powerful boy, and the club would like to wish him all the best for his time in New Zealand.

“He’s likely to be away for eight to 10 weeks, but we’re not quite sure at the moment.

“We’re also going to be without Aiden Nyhus and Aaron Lemon for around a month over Christmas. They’re also big players for us, so teams will be thinking it’s a good time to play us.

“But we’ve got a strong squad, and it gives some of the other lads a chance to come in and make a mark.

“I’m also looking to bring in a new signing, a striker who can play in a lot of positions, and I have put seven days notice on the player.”

With James heading down under, Josh Shaw will take captaincy, while Nyhus will be the vice captain - although the Liverpool-based Aberystwyth University student is away for the next month.

Lemon, a school teacher in Newtown, is likely to play in Saturday’s home encounter against Welshpool Town, before then heading home to his native Northern Ireland.

But the Roosters have options, with Lewis himself likely to play more, while he has no qualms about giving starts to Nathan Warren and Mike Gornall. Sion Meredith is also back in the squad to provide further options.

Midfielder Bari Morgan has undergone a successful operation to remedy a tear in his hip joint, and he is likely to be training again in mid-January with a view to playing again in early February.Read the full report in this week's Aberystwyth edition