ABERYSTWYTH Town vice chairman Donald Kane has urged supporters to get behind the team as they embark on the second phase of their Welsh Premier League campaign.

It has been a challenging season for the new management team of Matthew Bishop and Wayne Jones, who have brought in a new team, and also had to overcome ground developments.

Despite the disruption of having to play the first three months away from home, whilst the new 3G pitch was installed, the Seasiders came close to making the top six in what is a transitional season.

“The first half of the season has seen all the mixed emotions that go with any sport,” reflected Kane.

“With Ian Hughes’ illness, Wyn Thomas and the boys had got us through to the end of last season, unfortunately just falling short of qualifying for the knockout phase for European qualification.

“The Club was then left with a period over the early summer months without a manager, and in the words of some critics, inaction which had bordered on clueless.

“But picking a new manager is no easy thing, especially when a the UEFA pro licence is involved.

“The result was a huge turnover in players for the Club, and the new management team of Matthew Bishop and Wayne Jones.

“Also, with the advent of a new 3G pitch, our first nine games were away from home. I travelled to all those games with some our diehard supporters and the distances for the players and management has been a huge test, especially as it meant that our new ‘recruits’ had to play for their new team without actually playing game at home.

“So when we finally opened our new 3G pitch, with a great win against Rhyl, and our goalkeeper Chris Mullock scoring the first goal, we were finally home, with a new management and a new team.

“But then the floodlights were blown down in the strong winds.

“We knew this season would be hard, but we have created a great asset for future generations to play football, rugby and other sports at all ages, disabilities included.

“We now find ourselves in the bottom six at halfway as we did last year, but the team is young, and needs support and patience.

“We must now commit to using our great facility to coach and foster our academy teams to fulfil their potential, and become the best players they can be. As our President says ‘keep the faith’.”

Aber start the second phase of their season with a tricky Welsh Cup fourth round tie at home to Cymru Alliance leaders Prestatyn Town on Saturday (ko 1.30pm), before entertaining Airbus UK the following Saturday in the league.

An extended Cup run would give Bishop’s men a welcome lift, but they will be taking nothing for granted against a side that is still unbeaten in their league, following their 7-1 away win at Ruthin last weekend.

The Seasiders have had to overcome the loss of both Ricky Watts to Haverfordwest and Joe Clarke to Llanelli, with both players looking to play closer to their homes, as well as the return of Blake Davies to Forest Green Rovers.

Bishop has strengthened during the January transfer window by signing midfielders Elliott Scotcher and Jamie Crowther, as well as ace striker John Owen, but he remains realistic about his team’s goals.

“I’m delighted with all of our acquisitions. We wanted them in the summer, but couldn’t get them for whatever reason, but they’re here now, and that’s brilliant,” he said.

“It’s a real statement of intent from the board and the people at the Club that we want to build a side that is capable of doing something really special in the league.

“I won’t put myself or my players under the kind of pressure where I say if we don’t finish in seventh then we’ve failed, and to be fair the board haven’t done that either.

“The priority has been this year to stay in the league, and that has to be the same for every club.

“I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want to finish in that seventh spot, because that would mean we get a chance to maybe push for Europe and test ourselves, but the important thing for us in the short term is to bed our new players in.

“We’ve seen everyone we’re going to play now - yes, they’ll all probably strengthen - but we’ve got an idea how everyone plays.

“The excitement is that we’ve got fresh blood that has come into the football club, they’re fit, they’re hungry, they want to succeed.

“The priority now is a simple one - we want as many points as we can before the season ends and then we’ll see where we end up.”

While striker Owen is cup-tied on Saturday, the return of winger Geoff Kellaway is hopefully not too far away.

The fourth round tie will kick off at the slightly earlier time of 1.30pm as two of Park Avenue’s floodlight pylons are still out of commission.

Admission is £6 for adults, £4 concessions and £1 for children.