FORMER Aberystwyth Town skipper Stuart Jones has become Bala Town’s first new signing of the summer.

The 32 year-old centre half has made 320 starts in the Welsh Premier League, having spent seven seasons at Llanelli and four at Park Avenue, where he was club captain.

Jones, who is from Borth, is a former Welsh Semi Professional and Wales Under 21s international, having been named in the Welsh Premier Team of the Year on four occasions.

“I’ve been an admirer of Stuart since we entered the Welsh Premier, I tried to sign him before he went to Aber but missed out," said Bala manager Colin Caton.

"I made contact with him this summer, and he jumped at the chance to join us.

"I rate Stuart as the best centre back in the league, on par with my current centre backs. He has so much drive and desire when he plays, and he ticks all the boxes that I’m looking for in a defender.

"His aerial strength will be a big asset to us when we play against direct teams with long throws and set plays. He will be a big presence on set plays for us too.”

Aberystwyth-born Jones went through the Swansea City Youth Development system, before becoming Llanelli’s first full-time player in half a century when he signed in June 2005.

He made over 200 appearances for the Reds, where he won the Welsh Premier title, League Cup and Welsh Cup. He also made numerous appearances in European competition, alongside current Lakesider Ashley Morris.

Returning to his hometown club of Aberystwyth in June 2012, Jones captained his side to the Welsh Cup Final and qualification for the Europa League, as well as a top four finish.

He is one of six players to have left the Seasiders this summer, with winger Craig Williams and midfielder Ross Stephens having joined Newtown.

Striker Rhys Griffiths has become the new manager of Welsh League outfit Penybont, whilst defender Lee Surman and goalkeeper Mike Lewis have also left the club.

Aberystwyth’s new management duo of Matthew Bishop and Wayne Jones are in the process of building a new-look squad for next season, with new signings set to be announced.

"The challenge is first getting the team together and gelling that team," Bishop told atfc.org.uk.

"We want to be competitive and take every game seriously, including the Cup games, and let’s see where it takes us. If we adopt that attitude you never know.

"It’s going to be tough because of where we are geographically, but we’ve got good contacts and it’s our job to get the right players in so that we can move forward as a football club."

He added: "We’re looking to bring some fresh faces into the squad and freshen things up a bit, so that we can put a team that’s competitive on the pitch.”