FORMER Haverfordwest County manager Wayne Jones has been unveiled as the first member of a new management team at Aberystwyth Town Football Club, following the resignation of Ian Hughes.

A quality left-sided player, who made 295 Welsh Premier appearances for Haverfordwest County and Carmarthen Town, Jones is a former manager of Newcastle Emlyn, before then joining the County coaching staff under Derek Brazil.

He was appointed as Haverfordwest’s first team coach for season 2011/12 and shared the manager’s role with Mickey Ellis the following season, before being appointed as the manager in May 2013.

He successfully guided the Bluebirds to promotion from the Welsh League in May 2015, but with limited resources the club’s first season back in the Welsh Premier proved difficult, as they ended six points adrift of Rhyl at the bottom of the table.

Aberystwyth Town FC has confirmed that Jones, 36, will join a management team at Park Avenue, but has not yet revealed what his new position will be.

Locally-based coach Matthew Bishop, the former Newport and Aldershot assistant boss, who is now at Hereford, has also been linked to a possible role at Aber.

A Senior National Coach Developer for the Football Association, Bishop has the required UEFA Pro Licence qualification.

“Aberystwyth Town FC are pleased to confirm the recruitment of Wayne Jones to their management team,” said a club statement. “He joins the club from Haverfordwest County, where he has been first team manager for the past three years.

“In this role he inspired the Club to promotion from the Welsh League into the Welsh Premier League last May, and he oversaw the development of a number of talented young players into impressive Welsh Premier League prospects. A further announcement on the new management team will be made in due course.”

A statement from Haverfordwest County confirmed: “Wayne Jones has resigned from his post as manager of the club to take up a managerial role at Aberystwyth.

“We are disappointed to lose a manager of Wayne’s stature, but recognise that the opportunity to continue to broaden his experience of managing in the Welsh Premier was too good for him to turn down.

“All at Haverfordwest County would like to place on record their thanks to Wayne for his sterling efforts at the club, and we wish him well in his new role.”

Meanwhile Jones this week said that he was looking forward to being part of the new management team at Park Avenue.

“It was an opportunity that I couldn’t turn down, and it will be a fresh challenge for me,” Jones said. “I’ve had five enjoyable seasons in charge of the team at the Bridge Meadow, but I think it’s time for change, and I have decided to move on.”

He added: “I’m looking forward to going to Park Avenue and having another crack in the Welsh Premier. I’d like to wish everyone connected with Haverfordwest County all the very best for the future.”