Latest News

Matt Driscoll

Driscoll Makes His Debut At Llansantffraid
Tuesday, July 27
New signing Matt Driscoll makes his much awaited debut for the Robins at Llansantffraid tomorrow night.
Like many others in the squad the former Merthyr midfielder has been on holiday but will pull on a red shirt for the first time tomorrow.
Manager Darren Ryan will also give trials to Montgomery's Josh Evans, who was released by Shresbury last term and former Newport and Merrthyr youngster Rhys Jones who impressed in South Wales last weekend.
But Ryan will be without Chris Hartland, Dylan Blain, Craig Hutchinson and Tom Ward, who are all on holiday.
Ian Rowlands returns though while Jamie Russell will site out the match with a thigh strain.

Darren Ryan

Preparations Will Be Stepped Up At Troedyrhiw
Wednesday, July 21
Manager Darren Ryan has promised that the majority  of his new signings will be back from holiday and available for the game at Troedyrhiw on Saturday.
Shane Sutton, Paul Keddle and Chris Hartland will all be back and the boss will also have Paul Roberts, Jamie Breeze and goalkeepr Dave Jones back in action.
Matt Driscoll and Craig Hutchinson are still away though.
Ryan was not too disappointed with the Guilsfield result.
"Games mean nothing at this time of year except for getting people match fit," he said.
"It is important that we get the squad together next week as the new season will soon be upon us but it was a good workout and again some of the fringe players have had the chance to impress.
"I'm still looking to add a little bit of experience and hopefully that will happen next week," he added.

Darren Ryan

Pre-season Games Organised After Cancellations
Tuesday, July 20
Manager Darren Ryan has been working frantically to reorganise games after his pre-season build up was wrecked by cancellations.
Three games in the schedule were called off but the boss has moved quickly to fill the holes starting tonight (Tuesday) at Guilsfield with a 7pm kick off.
On Saturday the club will travel to South Wales to take on Welsh League side Troedyrhiw and next Wednesday (July 28) visit Llansantffraid Village for a 7pm kick off.

Ricky Evans

Club holding Charity Quiz Night At Latham Centre
Monday, July 12
A Charity Quiz Night will take place at the club on Thursday night (July 15) at 7.30pm.
The event has been organised by Pat Thomas on behalf of the Motor Neurone Association to raise funds to support those with MND and their families.
The quiz will be followed by a raffle and amongst the prizes to be won is a flight from Welshpool Airport, two tickets to Theatre Hafren, a food hamper and several other prizes.
Why not test your general knowledge, enjoy the evening and support a good cause all at the same time. A special prize will be awarded to the most original or amusing team name.
Entry is £2 per person and teams should be made up of four to six people.
You can enter by contacting Pat Thomas on 01686 630230 or on the night.
Questions have been compiled by Mel Jones and the quiz-Master is our own Michael Llewellyn Lewis.  

Dave McGuire

Managers Appointed To Run Youth Team
Tuesday, July 6
David Jarman (Jammy) and Ian Gregory (Pek) have been appointed as joint Youth Team Managers for the coming season.
They will form an Under 18 side to compete in the Central Wales FA Youth League (AGM taking place on 14^th July at Newtown FC). The side will also enter the Central Wales FA Youth Cup and the FAW Youth Cup which is at Under 19 level.Jammy and Pek are ideally placed to run the Youth set-up as they were the mainstays of the Academy at the club over the past few years where they have formed a strong bond with the players who are now 16yrs and over and who we hope to keep together to form the basis of the youth squad.
"The Club is very grateful for the continued work that both Jammy and Pek have signed up for, especially considering their huge commitment over the years," said secretary Owen Durbridge. "For the Central Wales FA competitions, the players can sign for our youth team whilst also signing for another club other than Newtown, giving the managers a wider range of players to choose from, " he added. "It is not  yet known how many teams will enter the re-established Youth League which is being pushed by FAW Councillor, Phil Jones of Caersws.""The FAW Youth Cup side has to be registered on first team forms with Newtown AFC which severely limits the players available for selection."The Reserve Team Manager is a more complicated issue," said Durbridge. "We are still waiting for news on the prospect of the North Wales Region Welsh Premier Teams forming a Reserve League which would be administered and funded by the FAW.
"Ian Williams of TNS is the regional coordinator and is putting a case for funding through to the FAW. Until this is known, it is difficult to pitch the right level at which to recruit a Reserves Manager, as we would also wish to enter the First Division of the Montgomery Amateur League."

Changes To Pre-Season Fixture Schedule
Monday, July 5
Several changes to the pre-season fixture schedule have been confirmed by Manager Darren Ryan starting with next Friday.
The Robins now travel to Chirk on Friday night, will be away to Llangollen on Tuesday, July 13 and travel to Ruthin on Saturday, July 17.
There is also now a question ovber the Wigan match while Northwich Victoria visit Latham Park on Saturday, August 7.

Schedule is:
Friday, July 9: Chirk away (7pm).
Tuesday, July 13: Llangollen awsay (7pm)
Saturday, July 17: Ruthin away(11am)
Saturday, July 24: Brecon away or Wigan home (tbc)
Saturday, July 31: Blackpool away (2pm)
Tuesday, August 3: Rhos Aelwyd away (7pm)
Saturday, August 7: Northwich Victoria home (2-30)
Tuesday, August 10: Rhayader away (7pm)

Darren Ryan

New Look Squad start Preparing For The Season
Sunday, July 4
Newtown players are back in training for the new season. Manager Ryan ran the rule over his charges last week before heading off for a well earned holiday.
Coach Rhys Stephens has been putting the players through their paces all week to ensure the team hits the ground running when the real action starts.
There will be a new look to the side this year with several six footers added to the squad. Ryan has made seven signings in all, bringing in defenders Matt Driscoll, Lee Hartshorne and Paul Keddle from Merthyr, Strikers Chris Hartland from Clevedon and Tom Ward from Rushall Olympic.
Midfielder Shane Sutton makes a welcome return from Presteigne and the highly experienced Ricky Evans joined last week to boost the squad.
"I am delighted with the way the squad has taken shape," Ryan told the club web-site.
"We lost a couple of important players early on and that was disappointing but I am confident the squad will be stronger this season. We will be a much tougher outfit from now on and the capture of Ricky Evans is the final piece in the jig-saw."
Newtown suffered an inconsistent season, littered with individual errors and an inability to hold on to a lead.
"We played some great football early on but we lacked a few leaders on the pitch and our inexperience was exploited too often. It will be tougher still next season but I think we will be better equiped to handle it. I ca'nt wait for the season to start and I'm grateful to the Chairman and the board for backing me in the transfer market, added Ryan. 
Coach Stephens is already delighted with the attitude of his players.
"These lads want to win everything even in training, running, tackling, strong-arm wrestling, you name it they want to win it," said Stephens.
"We've got height throughout the team now, in defence, midfield and up front. The opposition will know they've been in a mattch and that's the way it should be."
Newtown start their pre-season friendlies next Saturday (10th) away to Ruthin or Chirk (tbc) Amongst those lined up are Northwich, Wigan and Blackpool, The full list will be confirmed shortly. The WPL campaign starts with an away trip to Havefordwest on 14 August followed by a Friday night trip to Aberystwyth.

Away Trips to Haverfordwest & Aberystwyth To Start Welsh Premier League Fixtures
Thursday, July 1
Newtown kick-off the new Welsh Premier League campaign at Haverfordwest and Aberystwyth. See the full fixture list below:

                             Season 2010/2011

Ricky Evans

More Friday & Sunday Fixtures Next Season
Thursday, June 24
No fixtures have been received from the WPL yet, but there will be a push to hold more and more fixtures on Friday nights and Sundays next season.
 At the league AGM there was considerable pressure from clubs to have their home games on different days to a Saturday, with Prestatyn and Neath very keen to avoid as many Saturdays as possible. There will therefore be the prospect of many Friday night trips to lengthy destinations which will not be easy for some players and a lot of supporters.The League Cup will be a two-legged, knockout affair and will be regionalised into a Northern and Southern split. The winners of each region will meet in the final which will be one legged.
This is expected to start early in the season and will be entirely mid-week.

Back in training

Players Back In Training On Saturday
Tuesday, June 22
Newtown players will be back in training on Saturday as preparations begin for life in the new look Welsh Premier League
All last year’s Firsts and Reserve team players are invited to attend when registrations will take place for the coming season.
A lot of last year’s squad have re-signed, together with six new players.
Other trialists will be making appearances at training sessions and at friendly games.

Club Looking To Appoint Reserve & Youth Team Bosses
Tuesday, June 22
The Club has yet to appoint a new Reserves Team Manager after Martin Carroll stood down at the end of last season, and are hoping to appoint a Youth Team Manager shortly, also.
A team will be entered into any Youth League that is formed, together with the CWFA Youth Cup and the Welsh Youth Cup.Plans are underway to form a Welsh Premier Reserve League amongst the six “northern” clubs, amongst which Newtown is now grouped. Regional League representative, Ian Williams, the General Manager at TNS, is spearheading the formation and is putting together a proposal to the FAW for funding for the League.
A brief meeting at the WPL AGM showed keen interest amongst the six Northern clubs and initial prospects of FAW funding sounded promising.
The Southern region sides are better placed in relation to Reserve team football as there are three regional reserve leagues already in existence across South Wales and only Llanelli are showing any interest in forming a southern section.

Ian Woan & Avram Grant

Latham Park Chosen To Host Women's World Cup Qualifier
Wednesday, June 16
The Football Association of Wales has announce that the FIFA Women's World Cup qualifying match between Wales and Azerbaijan will be played at Latham Park, Newtown on Saturday, August 21.

The match against Azerbaijan is the penultimate game in Wales' qualifying campaign for the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup, and the last home match, as Wales will then play Sweden away on 25th August. 
The match in Mid Wales will fittingly round off a campaign in which Wales has already played in the south (Llanelli and Haverfordwest football clubs) and north (Airbus UK Broughton FC) of the country.

The host club has this season been successful in obtaining  both the FAW Domestic and UEFA Licences and will continue to play in the Welsh Premier League in the forthcoming season.

Azerbaijan emerged as 2-1 victors against Wales in Baku in October 2009, but currently sit bottom of group 8, having only played four of their eight group matches to date.  The Wales team is currently in fourth place, but with a game in hand over third placed Belgium, a good finishing position in the group is within reach.

The Wales Women's Senior team last played at Latham Park in March 2006, during the last Women's World Cup Qualifying campaign, and secured a 3-0 win over Moldova.  As a number of the players involved remain in the current Welsh squad, they will no doubt be happy to return to the scene of this previous victory.

The kick off time will be announced shortly.

Tom Ward

Chairman Pays Tribute to Retiring Director
Monday, June14
Long serving finance director Richard Bonfield has stepped down at the AGM held at The Latham Centre earlier this week and received a standing ovation from club members.
Chairman Mike Jones praised the outgoing official for his outstanding service to the club saying, "Richard has been part of the fabric of this club for 13 years and knows it inside out. His hard work and dedication is legendary".
Richard Bonfield has served under four chairmen and has overseen the transformation of Latham Park into one of the leading stadiums in the Welsh Premier League.
He told the club web-site, "After 13 years it was time for me to step down and pursue other interests. The club is in good hands and well prepared for the challenges that lie ahead".
He will be succeeded by Rhys Davies, an accountant with local company Whittingham Riddell and is also a member of the successful Robins Business Club.
Chairman Mike Jones and Secretary Owen Durbridge were both re-elected unopposed and Jones immediately paid tribute to club members for another tremendous year.
"Every section of the club played their part with the Vice-Presidents Club and The Latham Centre making huge contributions to a successful year".
In addition, the Social Club Committee was now up and running and the chairman said they had a vital role to play in the future and had already made a big impact.
A commercial team had been been formed to concentrate on fund-raising and would work closely with the finance director. The Robins Business Club was also formed in the past year and this had proved very successful in forging links with the business community.
The chairman paid tribute to his predecessor, Elwyn Preece for his contribution to the tremendous facilities at The Latham Centre. "This will be the foundation of our future success" said Jones. "The order book is well up on the previous year and we have gained an enviable reputation as a venue for parties, entertainment, business meetings and conferences.
"If we maintain those high standards we will then reap our rewards".
"The past season has been dominated by the Domestic License and a place in the so-called Super 12. The team finished 13th in the WPL but survived the cull to take their place in the revamped  league thanks to the Domestic License.
"It was a season of missed opportunities on the pitch," said the chairman, "but we have been given a second chance and we have to grab it with both hands. The supporters of this club deserve success and the manager has been given the tools to do the job".
"Standing still is no longer an option for this club", said Jones.
Next seasons competition promises to be very exciting with the league splitting into two groups of six after 22 games and a play-off  between the 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th team. The winner will gain the 3rd Eufa place. If one of those teams has already won the Welsh Cup then the 8th placed team will take part.
Co-opted director Nigel Kennedy was elected to the board and the new board is as follows;
Mike Jones (Chairman), Owen Durbridge (secretary), Rhys Davies (Finance), Terry Foulkes,
Barry Gardner, Kevin Hughes, Rachael Jones, Nigel Kennedy, Andrew Morris, Gareth Owen, Noel Owen, Dave Smith, Phil Williams.

Paul Roberts

Fourth Official on all Welsh Premier League Matches

The Football Association of Wales Referees' Committee has agreed that a 4th Official will be appointed on all Welsh Premier League matches in the 2010/11 season.

Previously, the Welsh Premier League has been unable to appoint a 4th Official on Saturday's, but with a maximum of six matches over a weekend in the forthcoming season, the Governing Body has decided that there will now be Four Officials on all games in the top flight. The same will apply for Welsh Cup matches involving Welsh Premier League clubs.

The Referees List for the 2010/11 season has also been confirmed with Matthew Bridges (Broughton), Bryn Markham Jones (Wrexham) and Wayne Stephens (Llanelli) promoted to the full list, having been on the supplementary list previously. The two other supplementary referees from last season Carmelo Lo Faro (Gresford) has moved to the USA with work and John Swindley (Wrexham) reverts back to the assistant referees panel and will therefore maintain his FIFA status as an assistant referee. Andy Harms (Rhyl) and Wayne Tregonning (Merthyr) have both been relegated back to the Cymru Alliance and Welsh League respectively.

There will be two new referees for next season, with Paul Fisher (Port Talbot) and Nick Pratt (Connah's Quay) promoted to the renamed 'Talents List'. The full list of referees totals seventeen, with an additional two on the Talent List.

The complete Referees list for the 2010/11 season is as follows;

Darren Adie (Caldicot)
Matthew Bridges (Broughton)
Lee Evans (Llanllechid)*
Brian James (Pontypridd)
Dean John (Swansea)
Huw Jones (Llanrhaedr Ym Mochnant)*
Mike Jones (Wrexham)
Simon Jones (Swansea)
Bryn Markham-Jones (Wrexham)
Kevin Morgan (Cardiff)
Neil Morgan (Swansea)
Kevin Parry (Llanfair PG)
Mark Petch (Deganwy)
Ceri Richards (Llanelli)*
Wayne Stephens (Llanelli)
Paul Thomas (Rhondda)
Mark Whitby (Swansea)*

Talents List
Paul Fisher (Port Talbot)
Nick Pratt (Connah's Quay)

* - Indicates FIFA Referee in 2010

Paul Keddle

Graham Evans

Tomi Morgan

Gavin Cadwallader

Shane Sutton

Cadwallader Agrees Terms And Sutton Returns
Tuesday, June 8
Gavin Cadwallader has resisted overtures from Prestatyn and is staying at Latham Park while Shane Sutton is returning to the club.
Cadwallader has been a player in demand since the end of the season but manager Darren Ryan was delighted to tell the Robins website today that he has persuaded the influential defender to stay on.
And Cadwallader has been joined by Shane Sutton, who has agreed to return after leaving for a spell with Presteigne last season.
And the manager has also confirmed that Andrew Webb, Adam Wharton, Dan Dawson, Tyrone McFadden, Robbie James, Dave Jones, Callum Wright and Jamie Breeze will all be staying on.
He will be in discussions with Craig Hutchinson, Dylan Blain, Andrew Thomas and Paul Roberts on their return from holiday this week.
The manager did confirm that Neil Mitchell has left to rejoin Caersws.
"I hope this news is welcomed by the supporters who I know have been anxious to know what has been going on behind the scenes," said Ryan.
"The difficulty was not knowing which league we were playing in.
"I am really excited at the way the squad is now coming together and I am far from finished yet.
"The fact is that we were not good enough to win a place in the Super 12 on the field last season. It's my job to ensure that we are this season."

Matthew Driscoll

Chris Hartland

Paul Keddle

Lee Hartshorn

Lee Hartshorn Is First New Signing For Ryan
Friday, June 4
Influential central defender Lee Hartshorn is Manager Darren Ryan's first new signing as he begins his re-building process.
Hartshorn signed from Merthyr on deadline day in January 2010 but his last minute transfer was blocked when it was discovered that he would have been registered for three clubs in the same season.
This time there will be no mistake as he has agreed to move to Mid Wales Leisure Latham Park.
Hartshorn joined the Martyrs from Welsh League outfit Merthyr Saints during 2008 and immediately made an impact, establishing himself in the centre of defence and scoring a number of important goals in a fine campaign.
But he found it difficult to command a regular spot in the Merthyr side last season.
The manager told the Robins website that he was delighted with the capture.
"Lee is just the sort of player I have been looking for and he will become a huge influence on the side," he said.
And the manager was quick to assure followers that more newcomers will be arriving over the next week.
"Everything so far has been negative with the loss of players and while I am disappointed to see them go it also gives me a chance to rebuild. That process is slower than expected due to the lateness of the licensing decision and their late decisions to leave.
"But I ask everyone to be patient. I am speaking to a number of players who will bring much needed experience to this club and am determined that we will start the season with a competitive side.
"I want players who want to play for Newtown. Players have been ringing me ever since the decision was reached asking to come here but I have to be sure we have the right people.
"I assure everyone that I am working around the clock to get things right," he added.

Craig Williams

Craig Williams Rejects Terms And Is Off To Aberystwyth
Thursday, June 3
Craig Williams is joining Ross Stephens in rejecting terms to stay at Mid Wales Leisure Latham Park.
The talented young defender has rejected manager Darren Ryan's offer for the 2010/11 season to take on a new challenge at Aberystwyth Town. Williams, a Newtown based player was promoted from the Academy and appeared in the Sky TV show 'Football Icon' and was the youngest player to be voted plater of the month in November 2005. Club secretary Owen Durbridge said the club was disappointed he has chosen to leave, especially considering him being a “born and bred” Newtown footballer. "We naturally wish him well, but appreciate the loyalty of all the players that have chosen to stay. "The undoubted uncertainty caused by the licensing decisions has provoked unrest in the squad with Darren having less time than a lot of rival clubs to secure players for the new season."
Williams told the manager that he needed a new challenge. 

Talks Taking Place On Reserve Division For Welsh Premier League
Tuesday, June 2
Newtown FC is currently in talks with other Welsh Premier League clubs about the prospect of forming a Reserve League between all the clubs this season.
"The matter was proposed by club chairman, Mike Jones a few weeks ago to several clubs, including some outside the Premier League and it fell on deaf ears at that point," said secretary Owen Durbridge.
"Some clubs in the South have initiated the idea, but the thoughts are to zone any possible league North and South. Initial prospects sound promising and it is expected to resolve the matter at the AGM on 12^th June, or before.
"The Newtown Board has mixed feelings on the subject with the costs of travelling being the obvious pitfall. However, the vastly increased standard would be sufficient to attract the attention of players who may be considering leaving the club due to the prospect of our Reserves joining the Amateur League. "The whole reserves situation is grossly unfair on a club like ours, who, in 2009 had a reserve side that won the Spar Mid-Wales League, had a colts side that was very successful and was full of young players and a youth side that had won the CWFA Cup.
"The ideal for us would be to continue to offer four levels of football at the club; it is a huge commitment but if we had the people prepared to run the sides and the players prepared to commit to them, it would be an attainable objective once again.
"It would provide for our Academy and Junior football players who are otherwise forsaken at the age of 16yrs; instead they can join a youth side, if a League exists once again, and a Youth Cup side that would compete at CWFA level and Welsh Youth Cup level.
"In addition, a Colts side would be the avenue to progress into adult football with no pressure in the early stages to be too competitive and once players have found their feet, they can progress into the Reserves and then the First team," said Durbridge. "That ideal, which, as I have previously said, actually existed two seasons ago, has been wrecked by FAW rules – pointless rules that have forced our Reserves out of the Mid Wales League with no thought as to where they could ply their trade and also be competitive and challenging enough to feed through to the Firsts.
"Additionally, the One Player One Club rule forbids us falling back on Cymru Alliance or Mid Wales League teams to use players on second forms as was once normality a few years ago.
"Furthermore, whilst our First Team are forbidden to register or transfer players outside the transfer windows, all the leagues below us are free to take our players at their whims as no such restrictions are placed upon them.
"Aberystwyth and TNS, our near neighbours in the WPL have both scrapped their Reserve teams and instead hold a bigger squad of First team players which they can either risk seeing waste on the sidelines or put them out on loan to other clubs. It is not healthy to run just the one team – but that is what they are doing because of the changes in rules. "The Mid-Wales area has no Youth League, although FAW Councillor, Phil Jones is actively pursuing restarting a league – but how big it will be is debatable. A club cannot attract youth players simply to play in a part time Youth league; they will want Saturday football as well.
"Youth League football, if played on a Sunday, is exempt from the One Player One Club rule, which means youth players could play for Newtown, for example, on a Sunday but play for another Club on a Saturday. If the Youth League becomes a mid-week floodlit league, as is being popularly suggested, then players could only play in it for their Saturday Club and no other. More senseless restrictions that prevent clubs like ours running extra teams! "Our Board of Directors has decided that the Club will continue to run a Reserve side this year, and has resolved that it will operate at as high a level as they are able to find, but if it has to be at Division One of the JT Hughes Montgomeryshire League, then that is reluctantly where it will have to be.
"Intending no disrespect to that League and the teams in it, our First Team needs to have support from a Reserve side operating at as high a level as possible and that is unlikely to be provided by this League. "It is interesting to note in the south of Wales, there are three Reserve leagues operating as well as an Under 19 league with the same three divisions, all of which are ideally zoned at East, Central and West. Together they operate across the whole of South Wales and offer phenomenal opportunities for clubs in that area.
"Little wonder there is no impetus to improve things elsewhere in Wales. There is also a Reserve League operating in the Wrexham area and across North Wales, but they would not welcome our participation as they would not wish to travel this far south for fixtures. "Whilst once, Mid Wales was the ideal place to be to get the highest quality of football in the smallest distance, it is fast becoming a wilderness as clubs fall from the Welsh Premier and see its reserve teams being forced into collapse.
"Academies are disappearing along with the ex-WPL clubs and there is no Youth League in existence. Things are bright enough once you get to Montgomeryshire League and Mid-Wales League levels, but by then young footballers might already have been lost to the game with little encouragement to remain in football once they have left the juniors or an Academy."

Ross Stephens

Marc Lloyd Williams

Marc Connolly

Owen Durbridge

Owen Durbridge Unhappy With Comments From Daily Post Columnist
Sunday, May 30
Newtown Secretary Owen Durbridge is unhappy with the Daily Post's response to his article which appeared on this web site following the paper's criticism of the decision to turn down Rhyl's Domestic Licence appeal and award Newtown a Super-12 spot.
"I note with interest the response from the Daily Post to my article on our club website a week ago. When I submitted the article for publication, I attached a link to the Daily Post article, thus allowing readers to make their own minds up," said Durbridge. "I had four main criticisms of the article: "a) They expressed a wish that the FAW had “bent the rules” to allow in Rhyl. The reason I put the words “bent the rules” in inverted comments was not as a quote – as that would have had a direct reference to the original article as a source; rather, it was done to acknowledge a slang phrase as it is not actually possible to bend rules!
"This is what the actual statement was in the Daily Post – “The rules are the rules, but the FAW should have demonstrated greater flexibility in certain cases to allow teams to find their feet.” That is a quotation.
"If that is not a clear indication that the author wished the FAW had “bent the rules” then I don’t know what is!
"The whole article was leaning towards the demise of Rhyl, although there was mention of Llangefni as well; I did not refer to Llangefni simply because I do not know why they failed their licence, whilst Rhyl had attracted much publicity as to their failure."
"b) I asked that they give the FAW a fighting chance to get the new format off the ground. A newspaper such as the Daily Post attracts a lot of attention and they give excellent WPL exposure; whilst they have no need to be a marketing arm of the FAW, they could look after the remaining WPL clubs in their circulation area by giving a more balanced view of the new system.
"Other people I speak to seem to think there could be benefits from slashing the number of clubs and the plus points I highlighted in my article would have made a more reasoned argument as to whether or not the “Super 12 will worsen not improve Welsh Premier League”.
"Again, that is a quotation and it was the headline to the article. That is an extremely negative headline and the only real evidence to back it up was that Rhyl would not be in the new look league. Yes, Rhyl are a hugely well supported club and they have a good travelling support which will be missed, but without the massive money they have been hitherto spending, there is no saying that support would have continued – although I hope it does.
"c) Andy Legg, as far as I am aware, did not “deride” (another quote) the Super 12 per se, but rather the delay in knowing what format league fixtures were going to take and how the Cup competitions would work. I share his view on those matters, and agree with the Daily Post comments that all this should have been sorted out much, much earlier.
"d) The FAW and Welsh Premier League Officials have long championed summer football, but the clubs have bounced it back every time it is raised. I am pretty sure that if the FAW thought they could force through summer football for the WPL, they would have done so.
"The last paragraph of the article criticised the FAW for not making “a move to summer football” – another quote. I am not even sure the WPL clubs in the Daily Post circulation area actually want summer football – if they do, I have no recollection of hearing it discussed.
"I did not read the original article with “abandon” as suggested in the Daily Post response, and hope my clarification herewith, demonstrates as much," added Durdbridge..
"North and Mid Wales clubs have clearly come off the worse in WPL cull, but I am sure they will prevail and return as quickly as promotion allows. The lack of a second division to the WPL is lamentable, but it appears the Cymru Alliance has become that second division to all intents and purposes and I do not see the much publicised stagnation happening in the new look WPL.
"Clubs like Rhyl, Porthmadog, Connahs Quay, Llangefni and Llandudno – to name just five, will be banging on the door very quickly. What seems unfair is that the southern equivalent has nothing like the number of well-equipped clubs in its membership, yet have the same access via promotion to the WPL each year.
"This is why a WPL Second Division would have been by far the most sensible."

Greg Strong

New signings???

Dan Dawson

Darren Ryan

Gavin Cadwallader

Timmy Edwards

Testimonial Today For Former Robins Defender
Saturday, May 22
A testimonial match takes place today at The Venue, Oswestry to mark the retirement of former Newtown defender Timmy Edwards.
One of the most highly-regarded players in the league, Edwards scored 41 goals from 454 appearances for Bangor City, Cefn Druids, Newtown, Rhyl, Total Network Solutions and Welshpool Town during a career that started in 1994/5 and spanned 17 seasons.
He will lead a Select XI jointly managed by former Llansantffraid and Newtown boss Graham Breeze, former Robins Manager Brioan Coyne and Cefn Druids manager Huw Griffiths against a Welsh Premier All-Stars team to be managed by Joey Jones and Roger Preece.
Tim will play alongside some of his former team-mates such as Gareth Wilson, Marc Limbert, Paul Smith, Tim Steel, John Toner, Jamie Brewerton, Marc Lloyd Williams and Simon Williams.
Players who have pledged their support to the All-Stars include Andy Legg, Clayton Blackmore, Gary Lloyd, Lee Kendall, Mark Jones, Aneurin Thomas, Ricky Evans, Steve Rogers, Gavin Allen, Hugh Clarke, Gareth Owen and Lee Coathup.
Proceeds will be going to the baby care unit at Glan Glwyd in Bodelwyddan.

Owen Durbridge

Afan Lido Likely To Withdraw Arbitration Threat After Defeat
Thursday, May 20
Afan Lido are now likely to withdraw their threat of taking the Welsh Premier League to arbitration after finishing in third place in the Welsh League last night.
In a dramatic finish at the Marston's Stadium in front of a record attendance of 631, Goytre United clinched the Welsh League title.
It ended any slender hopes of Afan Lido gaining promotion to the Welsh Premier, as they ended the season in third place, after promising to challenge their failure to obtain the FAW's domestic licence if they won tonight.
Lido looked on course for victory when, with seven minutes remaining, Scott McCoubrey put them in front.
But former Port Talbot, Neath and Newtown frontman Richard French levelled for the Goyts as the game went into stoppage time and another ex-Steelman, Richard Ryan, pounced for the winner in the 93rd-minute.
Cambrian & Clydach clinched the runners-up spot in the night's other game by winning 4-3 at Bryntirion Athletic.
Second place is a remarkable achievement for Rhondda outfit C&C, who were playing in the South Wales Amateur League five years ago before winning three successive promotions to reach the second tier of Welsh football.

Mike Jones

Club Officials Welcome Premier League News And Look To The Future
Tuesday, May 18
Club chairman Mike Jones has announced his joy and relief as the club begins preparations for life in the Welsh Premier League Super 12 next season
And secretary Owen Durbridge has joined him in praising everyone at the club for ensuring football at the highest level during 2010/11 season.
"I have now had time to digest the news we have been waiting for almost four weeks for and my reaction is one of sheer joy and relief," said Mike Jones. ". "We now have a second chance to take the club forward and we must seize that chance with both hands.
"It will take hard work, I know, but we have a great off-the-field team who will be boosted by today's news and I am so pleased for all of them.
"Our place in the league is just reward for our director Owen Durbridge who has worked tirelessly to ensure we gained our Domestic License. I am pleased too for our supporters who have been very patient for a very long time. It's terrific news too for Manager Darren Ryan and the team and they will relish the chance to get it right next season," added the chairman.
"Darren has been like a coiled spring waiting for todays news but now he can make his moves in the transfer market. He knows who he wants and the club will back him and help him in every way possible.
"The WPL will be tougher than ever next season and we need to up our game in every department. The format for next season remains unclear but the return of the Premier Cup, if confirmed, will be a big boost to the clubs.
"It would have been devastating to miss out on the new set-up and we must learn the lesson of last season.
"They say that for every winner there is a loser but this season six clubs have lost out and I sympathise with the directors and supporters of all those clubs who will not be celebrating tonight."
Secretary Owen Durbidge said the club had been inundated with calls since the news. "We have had a lot of phone calls, texts and emails congratulating us on retaining our WPL membership and we would like to express our appreciation for all the kind comments received," he said.
"Whilst we would have preferred to have been in the top ten as planned, we were not a hundred miles adrift with our points tally and genuinely feel we are where we belong.
"We would like to give best wishes to Rhyl Football Club and were as shocked as the rest of the WPL family to hear they would not be members next season. "The club’s Board of Directors are meeting this week to prepare for the new season and Manager, Darren Ryan is now able to speak with more purpose and clarity to his players. We will be looking to strengthen in certain areas, but hope to retain the services of our squad from last season. "The Board would, once again, like to thank all the off-the-field staff at our club for their hard work in securing the Domestic Licence and also to the Academy coaches who have a year long responsibility to work with our youngsters, all of which contributes significantly to the licensing criteria and the future of our club."

It's Welsh Premier League Again Next Season
Monday, April17
The club's period in limbo is over after Rhyl's failure to win their Domestic Licence appeal today means that Newtown have been awarded a place in next season's Welsh Premier League.
Champions just a year ago, Rhyl failed in their appeal due to the club's finmancial situation and will be relegated to the Cymru Alliance.
That was the main shock to emerge from the Licensing Appeals Body that met in Cardiff.
Cymru Alliance champions Llangefni Town also failed to win their licence, along with Welsh League hopefuls Afan Lido, which means that no clubs will be promoted from the feeder leagues this season.
Airbus UK Broughton, Bangor City and Bala Town were all successful and take their place in next season's "Super 12", along with Haverfordwest County and Newtown, who are reprieved from relegation despite finishing outside the qualifying places.
Gap Connah's Quay also failed to obtain a licence.
Next season's league will therefore comprise:
Aberystwyth Town
Airbus UK Broughton
Bala Town
Bangor City
Carmarthen Town
Haverfordwest County
Llanelli AFC
Neath FC
Newtown AFC
Port Talbot Town
Prestatyn Town
The New Saints.
Also awarded licences were Porthmadog, who are nevertheless relegated, and Cymru Alliance outfit Llandudno who failed to finish in the promotion positions.
Gap Connah's Quay also failed to obtain a licence.

Ninth place For Robins In Fair Play League
Thursday, May 13
Newtown finished in ninth place in this year's Welsh Premier Fair Play League with league champions The New Saints unning away with the title.
Darren Ryan saw his side collect 39 yellow cards and five reds throughout the season as they collected 250 points. Only The New Saints and Carmarthen collected less yellow cards than the Robins.
Down the road at Technogroup Welshpool discipline was at an all time low with the club finishing bottom, being the only club to accumulate more than 300 points.
The New Saints have made it a treble-winning season by adding Fair Play title to their league and league cup successes.
The Saints ended the season with a low total of 168 disciplinary points, with Carmarthen Town finishing in second with 176 and Aberystwyth Town claiming third with 192.
It is the second year running that the champions have underlined the importance of a good disciplinary record, as Rhyl won the award last season.
The title of league 'bad boys' goes to Technogroup Welshpool, who amassed 304 points, while newcomers Bala Town received the most red cards - eight in all, followed by Port Talbot (7) and Rhyl (6).
Referees waved a total of 60 red cards as well as 935 yellows
Wales are 12th in Uefa's Fair Play league with Scotland (5th), Ireland (6th) and England (7th) all boasting better records. The top three nations, who gain an extra Europa League place, were Sweden, Denmark and Finland
The official end-of-season table is calculated by the FAW’s automatic disciplinary programme and is based on penalty points being given for each offence with the serious infringements attracting heavier penalties. The club with the least penalty points tops the table.
There is considerable incentive for clubs to top the Fair Play league - the UEFA Fair Play Competition, which was introduced in the 1993/94 season, gives three countries the chance to enter an additional club for the UEFA Cup.
The association that tops the ranking automatically qualifies for a UEFA Cup place. All associations which achieved an average of eight points or more go into a draw to determine the other two places. The three UEFA Cup places go to the clubs which won the domestic fair play competition. If the winner has already qualified for one of the UEFA competitions the next club on the domestic fair play ranking gets the UEFA Cup place.

                                                                             Y     R

			Total	Points
The New Saints	38	1	39	168
Carmarthen Town	37	1	38	176
Aberystwyth Town	44	1	45	192
Haverfordwest County	49	2	51	220
Airbus UK Broughton	52	2	54	224
Neath FC	39	4	43	224
Elements Cefn Druids	46	3	49	224
Gap Connah's Quay	51	4	55	244
Newtown AFC	39	5	44	250
Llanelli AFC	52	2	54	254
Rhyl FC	48	6	54	256
Caersws FC	60	2	62	260
Bangor City	58	3	61	264
Prestatyn Town	61	2	63	274
Porthmadog FC	60	3	63	276
Bala Town	53	8	61	294
Port Talbot Town	55	7	62	296
Technogroup Welshpool	63	4	67	304

Mike Barton

Mike Jones

Darren Ryan

John DEakin

Damien Daniels

Damien Daniels Leaves Newtown With Chairman's Praise
Monday, April 26
Damien Daniels has left Newtown for personal reasons after five years with the club with a message of high praise from chairman Mike Jones.
Daniels has found the pressure of travelling for training and matches a struggle with a young family and has decided to step down.
His departure brought strong words of praise from the chairman.
"I would like to thank Damien for being a part part of our team for over five years, we have enjoyed having him here.
"He is our current longest serving player and has played under two different managers which says everything about his value to the team. He has always conducted himself in a professional manner, none more so than at Bangor, whichwas his last game for the club.
 "I know how difficult it was for him but he handled it with great dignity and honesty. I wish him good luck in the future."
Damien told the Robins website: I would like to thank everybody at Newtown Football Club who have been absolutely amazing during my 5 years at the club.
"It has been a very very tough decision for me to end my time at the club as I have had an amazing time and have met many great people but it has become a bit of a struggle with a young family to commit to the travelling and putting in the training that playing at this level needs you to do.
"I have always been told and have told younger players that you should play at the highest level you can while you can and at 28 it is very hard to for me to stop playing at this level but I've found it hard to impose myself on games due to injury and my inability to train as much as id like."

Andy Cale

Darren Ryan

Manager Admits Side Not Up Welsh Premiership Challenge
Friday, April 23
Manager Darren Ryan has admitted that his Newtown side was not up to the challenge for a place in the elite top ten.
Hopes of  place in the top 10 vanished with draws against Connah's Quay and arch rivals Caersws this week  and the club' slim hopes of a place in the new league now rest with the licensing appeals of several clubs who will finish above.
"We have not been good enough, the commitment has been faultless but we have lacked quality.
"The board has been superb this season and I accept that as manager the buck must stop with me."
Although the Latham Park outfit were successful in their bid for the FAW domestic licence, it is likely that enough of the other clubs above them will succeed on appeal, and their current 13th place will not be good enough.
"We could still get in to the Super 12, but nobody really knows what is going on right now, so we must start preparing for competing in next season's Cymru Alliance," adds Ryan.
"I would like to think the majority of this season's squad will want to stay at Newtown and get the club back into the top flight.
"It would be great to finish the season off in style with a win at Farrar Road and that's what I will be asking the players to do tomorrow, "he said.

It's not over yet in chase for Super 12
Thursday, April 22
While gloom and despondency has descended upon Mid Wales Leisure Latham Park it's worth remembering that it's not all over yet as four clubs face a vital weekend.
The facts are that Newtown have to win at Bangor City to finish on 43 points, and rely on other clubs losing to stand any chance of a place in the top 12 and then hope that one of the clubs above fail in their licencing appeal. All clubs outside the top 10 also need the promoted clubs to fail in their appeals
Sounds a long shot but as they say 'football is a funny old game'.
Bala are the side in danger of dropping out of the top 10. They travel to Port Talbot, who need to win to secure third spot and a place in the Europa League. Defeat for them would leave them on 44 points.
Both Camarthen and Haverfordwest are at home to Cefn Druids and Caersws respectively and will be expected to get three points, but you never know.
If Haverfordwest drew and Newtown won we would finish above them in the top 12. But Carmarthen need to lose for us to go above them.
Football has a nasty habit of producing a twist in the tail and at 4-15pm on Saturday all eyes will be on the results from around Wales.
Then it will be in the hands of those in power at the FA to decide the future of Newtown Football Club.

Craig Williams

Andrew Thomas receives a gift from Grumpy on behalf of the stewards

Thomas goes second on all-time list

Sunday, April 18

Andrew Thomas has eclipsed the record of Gary Lloyd by going second on the list of all-time Welsh Premier appearances. The defender made it 482 starts in a 17-year top flight career when he started in the Robins' home game against Gap Connah's Quay on Saturday. A locally-based player who progressed through the junior and youth set-up to become club captain at Caersws, Thomas had already achieved a league record by becoming the first player to make 400 appearances for the same club, when he turned out for the Bluebirds against Carmarthen Town on 10 November 2007. A no-nonsense defender with an uncompromising attitude to the game, Thomas played in the same backline for many years with all-time Welsh Premier record holder Colin Reynolds (516). Highlights of Thomas's career include two European appearances in the Uefa InterToto Cup in 2002/3 against Bulgarian outfit Marek Dupnitsa and three League Cup winners medals in 2001, 2002 and 2007. Since moving to Latham Park in July 2008, Thomas has made 61 appearances for Newtown and is the current captain.

Ross Stephens

Darren Calls For Final Effort For Vital Run-In
Friday, April 16
Manager Darren Ryan has made a rallying call to his players at the start of one of the biggest weeks in the club's long history.
"There's no room for error. We simply have to win our own games and get the points in the bag to take us into the top 10," he said.
"Then we can stop worrying about other results and licensing appeals. We would be in the new Welsh Premier League on merit then - where this club deserves to be."
"Tomorrow's game with Gap Connah's Quay is a must win match, " he said. "Defeat will make the challenge almost impossible, but it will probably go to the wire.
"There will be a few twists and turns yet and we have to ensure that we are not left to rue missed opportunities."
The next eight days will bring the curtain down on one of the most dramatic seasons in Welsh football.
Following the Connah's Quay game we head to Caersws on Tuesday night and then bring the season to a close with a trip to Bangor City next Saturday.
The manager's selection headaches are never ending. Craig Williams misses tomorrow's game through work commitments while there is a huge question mark over the fitness of Ross Stephens who limped off early on at Port Talbot on Tuesday with a pull.
He has been receiving intensive treatment this week and the manager will leave the decision until the last minute.

Chairman calls for back to back wins
Friday, April 16
Club chairman Mike Jones has called for back to back wins to push Newtown into a Super 12 position.
"We are yet to win back to back matches this season and that will have to change immediately if we are to give ourselves a fighting chance of survival," he said.
"Todays' game is certain to be a tense affair with both teams desperate for all three points.
"Our opponents today, Gap Connahs Quay, and, like us,they are fighting for their future in the revamped premier league. "We seem to have been locked together in 13th and 14th place all season and despite good results since the turn of the year, neither side has been able to climb the table.
"The race for a top ten place is destined to go to the wire with just eight points covering eight clubs with everyone in with a chance of making the cut.
"This season there have been two competitions taking place, one on the pitch and one off it. I am referring of course to the attainment of a Domestic License.
"Eight clubs, including ourselves, have been successful so far and some clubs are now 'playing extra time' to comply with the criteria. It seems likely that more than twelve clubs will be awarded a license so our destiny will be decided by our league position.
"It remains possible that eight clubs will be relegated from the league and if that happens, the league is certain to lose some excellent clubs who have been a credit to the Welsh Premier League over many years," he added.
"On Sunday we hosted the Welsh Cup semi-final between Bangor City and Prestatyn Town.
The day was a great success and provides valuable revenue for the club. Hopefully we will continue to host big games but our ambition must be to start appearing in them also rather than watching others.
"Prestatyn and Bala, both newcomers to the league, have shown what can be achieved with a little ambition by getting to the semi-finals and picking up a decent pay cheque for their efforts. 
"Our mid-week match ended in a 2 - 1 away defeat against a very strong Port Talbot team. The turning points were the loss of Ross Stephens after 15 minutes and when they went down to ten men, the dismissal galvanised them and they never allowed us a foot-hold in the game.
"The defeat leaves us probably needing seven points from our last three games and then hope other results go in our favour. Our rivals all have very tough games to play so we have a realistic chance of survival as long as we do the business ourselves.
"We finish our campaign with two away games, firstly with Caersws on Tuesday night and ending at Welsh Cup holders and finalists, Bangor City next Saturday.
"As this is our last home game of the season, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the players, coaches and back-room staff of all our teams. A special thanks to the supporters who have been brilliant all season and last but certainly not least, a huge thank-you to the Latham Park Team who make it all happen.
"The LPT have helped make my  first season as chairman so interesting and enjoyable and they can all be proud of their achievements.

Mike Jones

Ross Stephens

Stephens facing fitness battle to face Nomads
Thursday, April 15
The influential Ross Stephens is facing a battle to be fit for Saturday's all-important Welsh Premier League clash with Gap Connah's Quay Nomads.
Stephens, who limped off early on at Port Talbot with a hamstring pull, has been receiving intensive treatment this week.
The scorer of so many important goals this season is determined to be fit for Saturday.

Tomi Morgan

Darren Ryan

Same Again For Vital Trip To Port Talbot
Monday, April 12
It will be the same squad that performed so well against Caersws that travels to Port Talbot for the vital game tomorrow night.
Manager Darren Ryan has no additional injury or suspension worries after the week's break and will be calling for total commitment from his players again.
"The boys couldn't have done more than they did against Caersws," he said. "We had to win and they simply got on with the job and banked the points.
"There were some very good results for us at the weekend and the  fight for a top 10 place is now going to go right to the wire," the manager told the Robin website.
"But we can't rely on other people's results.We have to carry on picking up as many points possible. Every one of the squad is up for the battle. Everyone knows just how important it is for Newtown to be in the Welsh Premier League next season.
"Port Talbot is never an easy place to go and they have an eye on a European place so nothing but our very best will do tomorrow night."

Setbacks for rivals in chase for Super 12 spot
Sunday, April 11
Two clubs chasing a place in next season's Super 12 suffered setbacks yesterday in what could turn out to be important results for Newtown..
Airbus UK Broughton were stunned at home by Porthmadog, who won 2-1 thanks to a second-half brace from Chris Jones, either side of a Carl Owen effort against his former club.
The only consolation for the Wingmakers was that Haverfordwest missed their chance after leading 2-0 at home to Rhyl with goals from Lee Hudgell and Jack Christopher.
County were then hit by a second-half salvo from the Lilywhites who scored four times through Mark Connolly (twice), Tyrone Kirk and Matty Williams in a 4-2 win.
If The New Saints wear the Welsh Premier crown in two weeks' time, youngster John McKenna can claim a key role. 
It was the scholarship product who scored the Saints' 96th-minute winner at Neath a few weeks ago, and the 19-year-old popped-up again after 73 minutes to break the deadlock at a sun-drenched Caersws Recreation Ground.
The visitors struggled to break down a resolute Bluebirds' defence on a difficult, bumpy surface until McKenna seized on a loose ball 30 yards out and rifled his shot into the corner of the net to the audible relief of the Saints' bench.
Within a minute, the points were sealed when Matthew Berkeley slammed home a 20-yarder after the ball arrived at his feet following pinball in the home box.
Scott Ruscoe added the icing to the cake in the last minute, sending his header across the keeper and into the far corner from a Steve Abbott cross.
Two clubs chasing a place in next season's Super 12 suffered setbacks.
HOW WE STAND

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	F	A	Pts
1.	The New Saints	31	22	7	2	61	12	73
2.	Llanelli AFC	28	20	4	4	65	21	64
3.	Aberystwyth Town	31	18	6	7	49	36	60
4.	Port Talbot Town	31	17	7	7	53	22	58
5.	Rhyl FC	30	16	7	7	69	38	55
6.	Bangor City	30	16	5	9	64	44	53
7.	Neath FC	30	12	8	10	38	34	44
8.	Prestatyn Town	30	11	11	8	47	46	44
9.	Bala Town	31	12	8	11	38	44	44
10.	Airbus UK Broughton	30	10	12	8	44	32	42
11.	Carmarthen Town	30	11	7	12	38	34	40
12.	Haverfordwest County	30	10	9	11	37	39	39
13.	Newtown AFC	30	10	8	12	52	54	38
14.	Gap Connah's Quay	30	9	7	14	27	41	34
15.	Technogroup Welshpool	30	6	5	19	27	62	23
16.	Porthmadog FC	31	5	6	20	21	61	21
17.	Caersws FC	30	3	3	24	22	81	12
18.	Elements Cefn Druids	31	1	6	24	16	67	9

Owen Durbridge

Club's delight at being awarded Domestic & European Licences
Saturday, April 10
Club officials have expressed their delight at the news that Newtown FC has  been awearded European and Domestic Licences.
"We are delighted to have been awarded the Domestic and European Licences," said Secretary Owen Durbridge.
"We are also  proud that the coaching qualifications gained by our  Manager, Darren Ryan, have helped us gain the European Licence, especially as we were the first ever Welsh club to be awarded a European licence.
"We are grateful to the FAW for the coaching courses and mentoring provided to Darren Ryan and are particularly thankful to Andrew Howard for his guidance and assistance over the whole licensing process.
"Unfortunately for us, our tenuous league position, not helped by some critical injuries since the transfer window closed, means the big questions for us now are, who else will get a licence after appeal and what is a realistic target position for us to aim for with four games remaining?
 "Whilst we are still targeting 10^th place, and it is completely realistic, we will also need other teams to lose and that is outside our control. If we are to rely on teams not gaining a licence, then we simply have no idea what constitutes a legitimate appeal for the clubs who failed yesterday, with a particular eye on the applicants from the feeder leagues.
"It is going to be a very nail-biting conclusion to the season, and possibly beyond that, for us."

Mike Jones

Newtown and New Saints rubbish County Times report
Friday, April 9
Back page headline reports in today's County Times that The New Saints are planning to ground share with Newtown at Mid Wales Leisure Latham Park have been rubbished by both clubs.
Club chairman Mike Jones vehemently denied that there was any truth in the story and The New Saints owner Mike Harris said the story was a complete load of rubbish.
"We have had no approach from The New Saints or any other club for that matter," said Mike Jones. "I am extremely annoyed that a newspaper can carry such an article that contains not a tissue of truth.
"We are totally focussed on achieving our own place in the Welsh Premier League next season and are waiting anxiously today for news of our FAW Domestic Licence application."
New Saints Owner Mike Harris spoke to the Newtown website from his holiday villa in Portugal this morning.
"I have not even spoken to Gavin Grosvenor at the County Times," he said. "The story is rubbish. We have not applied to ground share with Newtown and will today hope to hear that we have achieved our FAW Domestic Licence for Park Hall.
"I did tell a fans forum at The Venue that if Park Hall did not obtain the correct licensing that we would have to look at ground sharing but that is all.
"The possibility of sharing with Newtown at Latham Park has never been discussed."

Premier Clubs face Anxious Wait on Licensing Decision Day
Friday, April 9

The independent First Instance Body will meet in the Football Association of Wales Headquarters this morning to assess the twenty-four applications for an FAW Domestic Club Licence.

The Domestic Licence has been introduced this season by the FAW for any club wishing to participate in the restructured and streamlined Welsh Premier League for next year and the Licence is a pre-requisite for participation in next season's League of Twelve.

Of the current eighteen Principality Welsh Premier League clubs, only Technogroup Welshpool decided against applying for the Licence when the process began last August, so the remaining seventeen applications will be assessed today.

There are also seven clubs from the two feeder leagues who have applied, with Afan Lido, Barry Town and Bridgend Town from the Welsh League and Buckley Town, Caernarfon Town, Llangefni Town and Llandudno Town of the Cymru Alliance.

The clubs are assessed not only on their Stadium, but also the youth development, player medicals, their legal statutes and stadium lease, the personnel and administration within the club, which includes the coaching qualifications of their Manager, their current financial status and their club charters.

FAW Club Licensing Manager Andrew Howard further explained;

"There are a total of 71 criteria for the Licence applicants to meet, so we're approaching the end of a very long journey for clubs who have worked tirelessly to achieve the FAW Licence.

"The criteria that the FAW has set is realistic and pitched at a level, which we believe merits the status of a Welsh Premier League club. Our National League needs to progress and making stadia more pleasant for spectators, improving the levels of coaching and thus standard of play and ensuring good financial practice will all go a long way to achieve this."

The Club Licensing initiative was introduced by UEFA for their competitions seven years ago and the FAW has followed suit with the majority of other European Nations, in developing a similar model for their National League.

"The introduction of the domestic Licensing system in Wales has certainly been welcomed by UEFA, who are strong advocates of this form of Governance at National Association level" added Howard.

Darren Ryan

Selection dilemma of different type for Ryan
Friday, April 2
Manager Darren Ryan faces a selection dilemma of a different type for the match with Airbus tomorrow.
After pulling a rabbit out of the hat and winning with a makeshift line-up at Carmarthen the manager has a near full strength squad to select from.
Dave Jones comes back into goal to replace Dave Roberts, who has returned to Aberystwyth, but the boss's injury worries have cleared up.
Damian Daniels and Robbie James have repotrted fit and Gavin Cadwallader and Craig Hutchinson are also both available for selection.
"We were short of bodies for the trip to Carmarthen but the younger members of the squad proved themselves with some outstanding performances,!" said Ryan.
"This is the most important Easter I can remember in football. With a lot of sides in the mid-table section dropping points a six point haul from our games would put us right up where we need to be.
"Obviously some players will be disappointed this weekend but my job is to win games for Newtown and I will be fielding the sides that I think can do that for us."

Airbus hit by injury crisis on eve of trip to Latham Park
Thursday, April 1
An injury curse has finally struck Airbus UK Broughton, leaving them without the services of at least two key players in the crucial run-in. 
Goalkeeper Kristian Rogers and defender Jamie Smith will not play again this season after suffering a broken jaw and a dislocated ankle respectively in last week's 5-1 home defeat at the hands of Bangor City.
There is also a question mark over whether Matty Woodward will feature in any of the Wingmakers’ final six games.
But better news for manager Craig Harrison is that leading scorer Marc Lloyd Williams, who was also injured in the same game, will miss only Saturday's trip to one of his former clubs, Newtown.
"Kristian and Jamie will be out for four to six weeks," Harrison (pictured) told the Flintshire Chronicle.
"Matty has been managing a knee problem for about six months with painkillers, but with this latest knock enough is enough and he will take some time out to heal now.
"We have avoided injury all season - then this comes all at once."
Airbus are in eighth place but still have work to do if they are to seal the top-10 spot that would qualify them for next season's Welsh Premier.
"We have quality in the squad and players have been knocking on my door asking why they are not getting into the first team," added Harrison.
"Now they have the chance to prove I was wrong to leave them out.
"We have Paul McManus, who has League Two goals to his name; Jack Rowlands has been in good form, Josh Johnson, Tom Rowlands, Gareth Sudlow, James McIntosh and Gary McConnell are all quality players, while we have the best second goalkeeper in the Welsh Premier in Chris Doran, so they all have to come in and show me they deserve a place."

Dave Roberts

Brace fears Carmarthen will slip out of Premier League after Newtown defeat
Monday, March29
Carmarthen Town face the prospect of playing in the Welsh League next season after the damaging defeat at home to Newtown, accoring to manager Deryn Brace. 
The Old Gold crashed 2-1 to Newtown and have now lost seven matches on home soil, the latest reverse incurring the wrath of Brace.
"I feared when we went two goals down early on the game was up as my players don’t seem to have the character to fight their way out of a paper bag," he said. "We cannot string two results together."
Lack of goals has been a problem for Carmarthen all season, with striker Craig Hughes failing to find the back of the net in the same number of games from which he notched 11 last season.
But west Wales rivals Haverfordwest revived their flickering hopes with a narrow home success over strugglers Elements Cefn Druids.
Tom Ramasut scored the games only goal and, despite the prospect of facing Llanelli, Rhyl and The New Saints in the remainder of the campaign, manager Derek Brazil remains optimistic.
"We have to keep plugging away. Two wins in a week has closed the gap and we will travel to Llanelli on Friday confident we can get a result," he said.
Teams near the foot of the top 10 are starting to look anxiously over their shoulders with Neath completing a fall from grace by crashing to a fourth consecutive defeat.
In a match of very few chances Jamie Reed scored Bangor's 81st-minute winner and manager Andy Dyer bemoaned: "We are getting pipped at the post and it’s costing us, we just need a bit of luck."
Prestatyn missed their chance to widen the comfort zone to six points, but manager Neil Gibson absolved Andy Moran of blame after he missed a penalty in stoppage time in a 1-1 draw against Porthmadog.
"You get a lifeline that late on and you think it might be your day, but I’m not going to place any blame on Andy," he said.
"He’s always taken penalties like that, for Rhyl, for Tranmere, for Prestatyn and he’s got a great record; he didn’t take this one any differently but this time it didn’t go in - it happens."
Courtesy of www.welsh-premier.com

Andrew Thomas

Massive selection problems for vital match at Carmarthen
Thursday, March 25
Manager Darren Ryan is faced with a massive selection headache for the vitally important clash with Carmarthen on Saturday.
With Jamie Breeze, Damien Daniels and Robbie James already on the injury list Ryan will have to travel without the unavailable Craig Hutchinson, the suspended Gavin Cadwallader and with a big question mark over Andrew Thomas.
Thomas has reported groin problems following Tuesday night's defeat against Porthmadog and is classed as very doubtful by the manager, which could leave him without all three central defenders.
"It was going to be difficult enough against a side fighting for their very survival," said Ryan. "But now we are really up against it, though it is a chance for the fringe players to really show us what they are capable of. I will need to shuffle the pack but football is a very strange game and sometimes when you least expect it fortune turns your way."
Andrew Webb, who was missing for Tuesday's game returns and the boss is likely to move Dylan Blain back and call on Tyrone McFadden.
"As far as the defeat against Porthmadog goes I just think it was a game too far for the lads. They had played six very intense games in two weeks and things started to take their toll.
"If Ross had stuck the penalty away when we were leading 1-0 we would probably have gone on to win comfortable but that's football."

Richard Evans

Nomads lose ground and The New Saints slip up
Saturday, March 20
Connah's Quay hopes of playing in next season's Super 12 received a serious blow as they lost the Flintshire derby 1-0 at home to Airbus UK Broughton, Jack Abraham scoring the only goal of the game.
And that leaves the Nomads trailing Newtown in 14th place as we close in on a top 12 slot.
The New Saints' title hopes were dealt a mortal blow as they were held to a draw at bottom club Elements Cefn Druids. 
Goalkeeper Chris Mullock was the hero, saving a Chris Sharp penalty and making a string of fine saves as the Ancients ended a sequence of 136 games without a scoreless draw.
Aberystwyth's six-game winning run came to an end as they needed a Luke Bowen equaliser five minutes from time to draw 1-1 at Bala Town, for whom February's Welsh Premier player of the month, Ricky Evans, was the scorer.

Mike Jones

Chairman's support for Welsh FA bid to improve off-field standards
Friday, March 19
Club chairman Mike Jones has backed the FA of Wales in its bid to improve off-field standards in the Welsh Premier League and its bid for greater professionalism.
He voiced his support ahead of tomorrrow's vital game with Prestatyn at Mid-Wales Leisure Latham Park.
"Our opponents have enjoyed a highly satisfactory campaign and must now be confident of securing a top ten finish in only their second season in the WPL. They should be congratulated for recognising the importance of this season above all others and having the ambition and determination to succeed.
"Like the rest of us, our opponents will be awaiting the outcome of their Domestic License application with a degree of trepidation. Inspections are due to take place over the next ten days or so and our collective destinies will be announced, for better or for worse, to the football world," he added.
"The outcome is certain to be controversial and may well end in tears for some clubs.
"I support the FAW's aim of improving standards off the field and introducing a greater professionalism to the premier league in Wales.
"At Newtown, we have spent serious money on bringing our stadium and facilities up to the required standard and this, it has to be said, has affected our ability to compete at the top end of the league.
"It is a difficult balance to strike and only when the FAW make their decision will we know if we got it right or not.
"The purpose of the Domestic License is to introduce a 'level playing field' for all clubs and prevent some from buying success on the field to the detriment of their facilities and supporters comfort. "Responsible and sustainable clubs are essential if the premier league is to be truly successful. Andrew Howard and his colleagues at the FAW have an unenviable task ahead of them and will find it impossible to please everyone but if the decisions are correct then he deserves our support in improving standards."
The chairman was also delighted with the midweek performance against Port Talbot.
"Our mid-week draw against an impressive Port Talbot was one of the most exciting and competitive encounters seen at Mid-Wales Leisure Latham Park for quite some time.
"Twice we came from behind in a match that we would have lost last December on the original fixture date.
"Despite an injury ravaged squad, Darren is slowly moulding a team that can both entertain and win matches. We have some way to go to compete at the very top on a consistent basis but we should have no fears, if we make it, about holding our own in next seasons league of twelve.
"The Port Talbot game will have reminded many of our supporters of what it used to be like at Latham Park a few years ago when we expected to be in the top six rather than hoping to make the top twelve.
"As a club, we need to regain our confidence and ambition to be successful again. Very few, if any, clubs in this league have the massive 'behind the scenes' support that we enjoy at Newtown FC.
"I never cease to be amazed by the enthusiasm, initiative, hard work and skills of the entire Latham Park Team and which makes my job so enjoyable. Team spirit, both on and off the pitch, has never been better and both teams deserve success.
"I look forward to another exciting encounter today and there is further entertainment on offer thanks to our Social Club committee who have organised events in aid of Sports Relief."

Darren Ryan

Massive week ahead in bid for Premier League status
Friday, March 19
There's a massive week ahead for Newtown in the bid to secure Welsh Premier League status next season.
Darren Ryan puts his side out against Prestatyn tomorrow and on Tuesday night welcomes former Latham Park favourite Tommi Morgan and his Porthmadog team.
And the manager was full of praise for his side after a 5-1 win at Welshpool and a 2-2 draw with Port Talbot in the last seven days.
"I can niot fault the lads at all," said Ryan. "They are giving me everything they have and are sweating blood to get Newtown into a top 10 situation.
"I have told them there is no more dressing room talk of relegation, they don't need that sort of pressure," added the manager.
With the news imminent on Domestic Licence results Ryan is determined to leave nothing to chance and his side's newly found form has taken them to within just two points of the top 12 with important games against teams in the chasing pack coming up.

Robbie James

Jack Hughes

Injury dilemma for manager Ryan
Thursday, March 11
Manager Darren Ryan is likely to be forced into changes at Technogroup Welshpool tomorrow night after two players picked up knocks at Bala on Tuesday.
Robbie James has a stud hole in his foot and lost a lot of blood while young Jack Hughes suffrered concussion.
The manager will need to make last minute checks on the pair with his options already stretched to the limits with Richie Harris, Damien Daniels and Jamie Breeze already on the sidelines.
"It sums our luck this season," said the manager. "We dominated Bala and couldn't get a second goal  so it was a case of points dropped.
"But I can't fault the lads for their efforts. We were so unlucky against Aberystwytyh last Saturday and it was the same story on Tuesday.
"Welshpool are determined to go out of the league with a fight so we can expect a tough game in this local derby."

Airbus and Haverfordwest slip up

Thursday, March 11

Two of the club's big rivals in the race for a top 10 place, Airbus UK Broughton and Haverfordwest were both involved in dramatic finishes as both were held to draws last night.  Marc Lloyd Williams struck with almost the last kick of the game to snatch a point for the Wingmakers and deny Cefn Druids only their second win of the season. Missing four young players, the Ancients produced a battling display and took the lead in the 26th-minute when TNS loanee striker Craig Whitfield rifled the ball home from 25-yards. The Wingmakers camped in the home half after the break but wasted several chances before Lloyd Williams broke the home resistance in the 95th-minute after referee Huw Jones had indicated two minutes of stoppage time. Airbsu remain in 10th place and will take some comfort from the fact that Haverfordwest County were held at home in a six-goal thriller by Prestatyn Town. Bluebirds' striker Jack Christopher claimed a hat-trick, the last from the penalty spot in the 86th-minute which appeared to have secured a vital three points. But the Seasiders, who had scored through a Paul O'Neill header and Jon Fisher-Cooke, levelled with another penalty for a handball offence in the 93rd-minute. HOW WE STAND Pos Team Pld W D L F A Pts 1. Llanelli AFC 23 18 3 2 61 18 57 2. The New Saints 25 17 6 2 49 11 57 3. Aberystwyth Town 26 15 4 7 41 33 49 4. Rhyl FC 26 14 6 6 56 32 48 5. Port Talbot Town 24 13 4 7 40 19 43 6. Neath FC 24 11 8 5 33 26 41 7. Bangor City 23 12 3 8 50 37 39 8. Prestatyn Town 25 10 9 6 39 36 39 9. Bala Town 25 11 5 9 29 33 38 10. Airbus UK Broughton 25 9 10 6 38 22 37 11. Carmarthen Town 24 9 6 9 29 26 33 12. Haverfordwest County 25 7 8 10 29 32 29 13. Newtown AFC 23 6 6 11 32 41 24 14. Gap Connah's Quay 23 6 5 12 17 37 23 15. Technogroup Welshpool 24 3 5 16 17 47 14 16. Porthmadog FC 23 3 5 15 12 43 14 17. Caersws FC 23 3 2 18 18 58 11 18. Elements Cefn Druids 25 1 5 19 14 53 8

Dave Roberts

Another vital match for Robins tonight
Tuesday, March 9
Newtown face another vital match in their quest for a top 10 finish with a visit to Bala Town tonight.
Saturday's defeat and points for both Carmarthen and Haverfordwest in the chasing pack means the game is a real challenge for manager Darren Ryan, who missed Saturday's defeat with an ear infection as his side slipped into 13th place.
Ryan hopes to be well enough for the trip to high flying league newcomers Bala but he has more injury woes to overcome with Damien Daniels added to a list that includes Richie Harris and Jamie Breeze.
New boys Bala have slipped down the table to ninth place after a flying start to their time in the top division but they have 14 more points than the Robins, having played two more games, meaning that Newtown must win tonight to stand any chance of reeling in the Lakesiders.
The only change tonight is likely to be the return of on-lolan Dave Roberts in goal as a replacement for Dave Jones with Ryan having to run late checks on a couple of knocks picked up on Saturday.
HOW WE STAND

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	F	A	Pts
1.	Llanelli AFC	22	17	3	2	60	18	54
2.	The New Saints	24	16	6	2	47	10	54
3.	Aberystwyth Town	26	15	4	7	41	33	49
4.	Rhyl FC	26	14	6	6	56	32	48
5.	Port Talbot Town	23	13	4	6	40	18	43
6.	Neath FC	24	11	8	5	33	26	41
7.	Bangor City	23	12	3	8	50	37	39
8.	Prestatyn Town	24	10	8	6	36	33	38
9.	Bala Town	24	11	4	9	28	32	37
10.	Airbus UK Broughton	24	9	9	6	37	21	36
11.	Carmarthen Town	23	9	6	8	28	24	33
12.	Haverfordwest County	24	7	7	10	26	29	28
13.	Newtown AFC	22	6	5	11	31	40	23
14.	Gap Connah's Quay	22	5	5	12	16	37	20
15.	Technogroup Welshpool	23	3	5	15	17	46	14
16.	Porthmadog FC	23	3	5	15	12	43	14
17.	Caersws FC	23	3	2	18	18	58	11
18.	Elements Cefn Druids	24	1	4	19	13	52	7

Damien Daniels

Owen Durbridge

Dave Jones

Jones back in goal for crunch clash
Friday, February 5
Dave Jones returns between the posts for The Robins tomorrow against Aberystwyth, his first Welsh Premier League start since breaking an arm at Holyhead back in October.
Jones is back in the side to replace new Number 1 Dave Roberts. Roberts is unable to play as part of his loan deal arrangement with the Seasiders.
Jones is likely to be the only change from the side which won sio well at Haverfordwest last Saturday in a game described by manager Darren Ryan as 'massive' for the club.
"This is the second game in a massive month for the club. Our fate will largely depend on how we figure during this period.
"It was a great performance at Haverfordwest and the lads deserve lots of credit for the way they kept going and got the winner so late in the game..
"But every game is going to be like that for the rest of the season. Aberystwyth have their eye on a European place and Alan Morgan has done brilliantly since taking over from Brian Coyne.
"But we have the ability to win tomorrow and go into the game with the knowledge that we can beat anyone in this league on our day.
"And then it's on to Bala on Tuesday night for another must not lose encounter.
"The good news is that the sides in the mix with us are dropping points and we are reeling them in week by week. The rest of the season will not be for the faint hearted."
The only other absentee will ber Jamie Breeze, who is recovering from his broken jaw.

Rob Williams

Mike Jones

Chairman grateful for Domestic Licence help
Thursday, February 4
Following a week of criticism for football authorities in Wales Newtown chairman Mike Jones has heaped praise on the organisations helping the club's Domestic Licence application.
"Secretary Owen Durbridge and Richard Bonfield are busy finalising the paperwork for our Domestic License as work on the ground nears completion," he said.
"As 'D' Day beckons, it is worth reflecting on the assistance provided by the FAW and the WGI, not only with financial assistance but with help and advice whenever needed.
"Andrew Howard has been particularly helpful throughout this whole process and David Miller was here at the Latham Centre on Sunday to oversee a workshop for aspiring media officers. The FAW are trying to encourage greater professionalism in the premier league and are supporting clubs with that aim."  

John Deakin

Jamie Breeze

Darren Ryan

Ryan takes full strength squad to Haverfordwest
Thursday, February 25
Manager Darren Ryan is able to name all his available players for the vital trip to Haverfordwest on Saturday.
The only absentee will be long term casualty Richie Harris as the Robins head south for yet another vital match.
"Every game is  a cup final from now on," said the manager. "We have to take the points of Haverfordwest and hope that we can keep winning to reel them in as they sit just above us.
"But there are other clubs in the same situation and the battle for points from now until the end of the season will be on a weekly basis. Evbery game is so important."
And the manager is confident Newtown can still secure a place in the elite Welsh Premier next season.
"The performances have been all that I could ask for," he said. "I know we were all a little disappointed to lose 2-0 to The New Saints last week but you have to remember the huge gulf between us and them, both financially and in playing depth.
"We now have to turn good performances into points, starting on Saturday."
Ryan welcomes back suspended defenders Gavin Cadwallader and Damien Daniels and is also likely to find a starting role for the influential Craig Hutchinson, who has been unavailable for the last two games.

Richie Harris

Richie Harris recovering after first operation
Wednesday, February 24
Midfielder Richie Harris, whose Newtown debut lasted just six minutes, is recovering at home after undergoing surgery on his injured knee.
Harris snapped both his lateral and cruciate knee ligaments in the horrific injury at Elements Cefn Druids, following his switch from Technogroup Welshpool Town.
He has now gone under the surgeon's knife at the Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital at Gobowen to have the damage to the lateral ligament repaired.
He faces a two month wait before the surgeon can attempt to repair the damage to his cruciate ligament and must then prepare for a long period of recuperation before even considering getting back into the game.
Manager Darren Ryan described the injury as a 'tragedy for the player'.
"As well as being unable to play football Richie is unable to work and all we can do is wish him every success in his recovery. I know that I speak for everyone involved at Newtown Football Club in wishing him a speedy recovery."

Rhys Stephens

Mike Jones

Chairman stunned by late defeat at Rhyl
Thursday, February 18
Chairman Mike Jones has admitted to being 'stunned' by the two late goals conceded at Rhyl last Sunday.
"With two minutes to go I was feeling disappointed that we might not get the three points we deserved. At the final whistle we were all stunned to be going home with nothing."
"The team performance was outstanding but ultimately ended in heartbreak as Rhyl finished the game very strongly and scored the winning goal with two minutes left on the clock.
"For the home team, John Leah showed why Darren is such a big admirer of his as he ran the show for the visitors in the second half.
"All the successful teams have 'big' players who can rise to the occasion when it matters and have the ability to grind out results when not at their best.
"I suspect tiredness may have played a part in the last ten minutes at Rhyl after three very hard games in eight days.
"Today's match is another stern test for our young team and is the last of the 'big four' games  which has seen us face Llanelli, Neath, Rhyl and TNS in consecutive matches.
"We put in two very good performances at home and achieved a deserved win against Neath." 

Craig Williams

Defender Williams on stand-by for Wales again
Monday, February 15
Craig Williams has been put on stand-by for the Wales Under-23 semi-professional squad to face Portugal. 
Williams was on stand-by for the last international but was forced to withdraw after being called in at the last minute by manager Terry Boyle.
Boyle has also called-up central defender Rob Williams who has been virtually ever-present for Altrincham since being released by The New Saints at the end of last season.
A product of the TNS Scholarship Scheme, Williams spent time on-loan at Newtown but has blossomed at Moss Lane this season.
The match is at the Municipal Stadium in Fatima on Wednesday March 3.
Goalkeepers: Lee Idzi (Haverfordwest County), Stephen Cann (Aberystwyth Town).
Defenders: Lee Surman (Port Talbot Town), Michael Johnston (Bangor City), Kyle Critchell (Dorchester United), Rob Williams (Altrincham), Curtis McDonald (Forest Green Rovers), Michael Pearson (Barrow).
Midfielders: Scott Barrow (Port Talbot Town), Craig Jones (The New Saints), Aeron Edwards (The New Saints), Drew Fahiya (Port Talbot Town), Luke Sherbon (Aberystwyth Town), Ashley Williams (Airbus UK Broughton).
Strikers: Jack Christopher (Haverfordwest County), Craig Moses (Llanelli AFC), Alex Darlington (The New Saints), Jamie Reed (Bangor City).
Stand-By: Craig Williams (Newtown AFC), Ryan Batley (Llanelli AFC), Lee Bevan (Haverfordwest County), Craig Jones (Llanelli AFC), Sion Edwards (Bangor City), Jordan Follows (Llanelli AFC).

Craig Hutchinson

Airbus slip up as battle for top places hots up
Saturday, February13
Airbus slipped up with a 0-0 draw as their bid for a top 10 finish was dented last night.
The Broughton men are now feeling the heat and if the Robins can win their games in hand they will go level.
That means that tomorrow's trip to Rhyl takes on an even bigger importance.
The cash strapped Seasiders have had their problems both on and off the pitch recently and will be under heavy pressure to get all three points.
Newtown manager Darren Ryan is asking his side to reproduce the form shown in midweek in the 1-0 win over Neath.
He will again be without the suspended Damien Daniels and the only change will be replacing the unavailable Craig Hutchinson.
At the top of the league it's starting to look like a two horse race after Port Talbot missed out on a chance to close the gap with defeat at Aberystwyth.
Aberystwyth avenged their Welsh Cup exit by climbing above visitors Port Talbot into third place with a 2-1 win at Park Avenue. 
The Seasiders established a two-goal lead with a first goal from Tranmere Rovers loanee Ryan Fraughan after 20 minutes and second against his former club from Luke Bowen.
Liam McCreesh notched his ninth goal of the campaign for the Steelmen 12 minutes from time, but they were unable to force an equaliser.
A mistake from Chris Mullock gifted Bala Town a first-minute lead at Plas Kynaston when Ricky Evans made no mistake after the keeper had dropped a Danny Williams free-kick.
Jon Rush levelled for the Druids just before half-time with a contender for goal of the season from 30-yards and Mullock atoned for his earlier error by twice making triple saves in the second half.
Rush hit the bar in the second-half but Druids' efforts were to no avail as Neil Fisher snatched the winner seven minutes from time and just three minutes after coming off the bench to lift the Lakesiders into the top six.

HOW WE STAND

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	F	A	Pts
1.	Llanelli AFC	20	15	3	2	50	16	48
2.	The New Saints	20	13	5	2	42	9	44
3.	Aberystwyth Town	23	12	4	7	33	31	40
4.	Rhyl FC	22	11	6	5	45	27	39
5.	Port Talbot Town	20	11	4	5	30	17	37
6.	Bala Town	22	11	4	7	26	26	37
7.	Prestatyn Town	21	10	5	6	34	31	35
8.	Neath FC	20	9	7	4	29	22	34
9.	Bangor City	20	10	3	7	43	31	33
10.	Airbus UK Broughton	21	7	8	6	33	21	29
11.	Carmarthen Town	19	7	5	7	26	23	26
12.	Haverfordwest County	20	6	6	8	22	24	24
13.	Newtown AFC	18	5	5	8	26	31	20
14.	Gap Connah's Quay	18	5	4	9	15	31	19
15.	Technogroup Welshpool	21	3	5	13	15	40	14
16.	Porthmadog FC	20	3	4	13	12	36	13
17.	Elements Cefn Druids	21	1	4	16	11	39	7
18.	Caersws FC	18	1	2	15	16	53	5

Ian Woan and Avram Grant

Former Robin caught up in the Portsmouth crisis
Former Latham Park favourite Ian Woan is caught up in the cash crisis at Portsmouth.
Woanie is now first team coach under former Chelsea boss Avram Grant at Pompey and is at the centre of affairs as the club careers from one cash disaster to the next.
Four times this season the club has failed to pay staff on time and on Wednesday failed to reach a settlement with the taxman ahead of its High Court appearance - but received a stay of execution when the final hearing was adjourned for a week.
Pompey must now stump up £11m to the taxman or risk going out of business completely, which would see Woan and the rest of the staff and players out of work.
Woan was broufght to Latham Park by then manager Graham Breeze and starred for the Robins in the HFS Loans League before heading off to Runcorn and Nottingham Forest, then managed by Brian Clough, for £80,000.
Woan successfully forced himself into first team contention with consistent displays down the left wing as Forest reached the FA Cup Final, and started as Forest recorded 16 goals in just 3 games, also being called into the England squad.
He later played for Swindon and Shrewsbury before joining Portsmouth as Under-18 coach, and was then promoted by Hart.

Owen Durbridge

Darren Ryan

Richie Harris

Darren Ryan

Mike Jones

Chairman calls for an end to transfer windows in Welsh Premier League
Club chairman Mike Jones today called for the scrapping of transfer windows for the Welsh Premier League and labeled them a restriction on trade.
He told The Robins web site, "The January transfer window is an anomoly that should be done away with. It is an appalling restriction of trade and I can think of no other industry that suffers such regulation.
"Can you imagine an office or factory manager who loses an employee to a rival company in August being told they cannot recruit a replacement until January.
"And by the way - if you dont get a suitable applicant within four weeks then 'tough', you'll now have to wait until next May".
"You could'nt make it up, could you?
"In the meantime, every team outside of our own league is free to pick off players at any time and there is not a thing we can do about it."
The chairman said the end of January brought an end to 'four weeks of frantic activity, excitement, frustration, disappointment and every emotion you can think of'.'
"Darren is delighted with the signings he has made but suffered major disappointments in the last few days when losing Richie Harris for the season just two minutes into his debut. "This blow was quickly followed by the news that the agreed transfer of an influential mid-fielder had been blocked by his club at the eleventh hour. Just when we thought it could'nt get any worse, the transfer of a new defender was ruled out by the FAW as the player was discovered to have played for two clubs already this season," said the chairman.

Lee Hartshorn

Lee Hartshorn

Dave McGuire

Mattie Lewis

Paul Roberts

Courtesy: welsh-premier.com

Harris season probably over with knee injury
As was feared new signing Richie Harris is almost certainly out for the rest of the season. Harris was stretchered off at Cefn Druids after just six minutes on Friday night and has sustained torn knee ligamnets.
After being rfeleased from hospital he has been referred to the club's physiotherapist and will see a specialist about the injury which has cut short his return to Newtown.
Manager Darren Ryan has only a few days to find a replacement for Harris with the transfer window set to shut next Monday with the situation worsened by John Leah's decision to stay at Rhyl.
The club has also received seven days notice of approach from Guilsfield for goalkeeper Dave McGuire. The manager is keen to keep Maguire at Newtown and hopes the keeper will stay to fight for his place.

John Leah

John Deakin

Results boost in chase for a top 10 place
Four of the five clubs immediately above us in the race for a place in the all-important top 10 failed to win this weekend as we moved up above Connah's Quay into 13th spot.
Nomads and Bangor City both lost whie Haverfordwest and Airbus only managed a draw. Camarthen and Bala were the teams to pick up maximum points.
Highlight of the day yesterday was a stunning Welsh Premier debut  hat-trick by Chris Jones in Neath's 3-2 victory over Porthmadog.
The Grimsby Town loanee hit three goals in the first-half at The Gnoll, one from the penalty spot, as the Eagles threatened to give lowly Port a roasting.
But the Gwynedd outfit showed more resilience after the break and hit back with a goal from Marcus Orlik. And when Rob Folland put through his own goal in the 73rd-minute, it set-up a nervous finish for Andy Dyer's men.
The New Saints and Llanelli extended their lead at the top after slender victories. TNS beat Port Talbot in the clash of the in-form sides at Park Hall with a solitary goal from Steve Evans on the stroke of half-time.
Llanelli trailed 2-0 at home to Bangor City, who scored through Mark Smyth and a Chris Sharp penalty, but hit back through Chris Venables and a brace from Rhys Griffiths, the winner arriving in the 93rd-minute.
Rhyl put a difficult week behind them by beating Gap Connah's Quay 4-1 at Belle Vue. The Nomads' cause was not helped by the 27th-minute dismissal of defender Andy Alston and they fell behind to goals from Mark Connolly and George Horan.
A goal from debutant Aaron Burns gave them hope 11 minutes from time, but Matty Williams settled the home nerves with a late brace.
Bala Town won 3-1 at Caersws with goals from Gethin Lloyd, John Toner and Owain Roberts, while Haverfordwest and Airbus shared the spoils 1-1 at the New Bridge Meadow

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	F	A	Pts
1.	The New Saints	19	13	5	1	42	8	44
2.	Llanelli AFC	18	13	3	2	47	16	42
3.	Rhyl FC	20	10	6	4	42	23	36
4.	Aberystwyth Town	20	11	3	6	30	27	36
5.	Port Talbot Town	18	10	4	4	28	15	34
6.	Neath FC	16	9	5	2	27	18	32
7.	Prestatyn Town	20	9	5	6	33	31	32
8.	Bala Town	20	9	4	7	23	25	31
9.	Bangor City	19	9	3	7	40	30	30
10.	Airbus UK Broughton	17	6	7	4	30	18	25
11.	Carmarthen Town	17	7	3	7	25	22	24
12.	Haverfordwest County	18	5	6	7	19	22	21
13.	Newtown AFC	15	4	4	7	25	29	16
14.	Gap Connah's Quay	17	4	4	9	14	31	16
15.	Technogroup Welshpool	18	3	3	12	13	36	12
16.	Porthmadog FC	19	2	4	13	11	36	10
17.	Elements Cefn Druids	18	1	3	14	9	35	6
18.	Caersws FC	17	1	2	14	16	52	5

Paul Roberts

Double striker blow on eve of trip to Cefn Druids
Darren Ryan's plans to unveil a new look striking partnership for tomorrow's trip to Elements Cefn Druids have been dealt a major blow with the loss of two strikers.
New signing Paul Roberts has been handed a one match ban by the Welsh FA and Jamie Breeze has been called up by Wales Colleges.
This is a double blow for the boss who has been thwarted in his efforts to further strengthen the squad in time for the trip with the move of Andrew Webb from Shawbury not likely to take place in time for the game.

Darren Ryan

Ryan keeping fingers crossed for better weather
Manager Darren Ryan is keeping his fingers crossed that Friday night's game at Elements Cefn Druids gets the go-ahead so that he can get his new look squad into action.
Ryan will have his four new faces on display if the match beats the weather and knows that nothing less than three points against the basement strugglers will be good enough.
The Robins boss is desperate to get back into action as a gap has begun to open with the group of clubs ahead of us in the Welsh Premier League since the last defeat against Bangor Cirty back on December 12.
He will have a full squad to select from with Craig Hutchinson available again and all players reporting fit.
That means the squad will include newcomers goalkeeper Dave Roberts, striker Paul Roberts, midfielders Richard Harris and Jamie Russell.
The only one to leave Mid Wales Leisure Latham Park is Nicky Ward, who has moved to Bangor City.
HOW WE STAND

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	F	A	Pts
1.	The New Saints	18	12	5	1	41	8	41
2.	Llanelli AFC	17	12	3	2	44	14	39
3.	Aberystwyth Town	19	11	3	5	29	25	36
4.	Port Talbot Town	17	10	4	3	28	14	34
5.	Rhyl FC	19	9	6	4	38	22	33
6.	Bangor City	18	9	3	6	38	27	30
7.	Neath FC	15	8	5	2	24	16	29
8.	Prestatyn Town	19	8	5	6	28	31	29
9.	Bala Town	19	8	4	7	20	24	28
10.	Airbus UK Broughton	16	6	6	4	29	17	24
11.	Carmarthen Town	16	6	3	7	23	21	21
12.	Haverfordwest County	17	5	5	7	18	21	20
13.	Gap Connah's Quay	16	4	4	8	13	27	16
14.	Newtown AFC	14	3	4	7	23	29	13
15.	Technogroup Welshpool	17	3	3	11	13	31	12
16.	Porthmadog FC	18	2	4	12	9	33	10
17.	Elements Cefn Druids	17	1	3	13	9	33	6
18.	Caersws FC	16	1	2	13	15	49	5

Club receives £16,000 grant aid towards ground improvements
Newtown secretary Owen Durbridge has declared himself pleased and relieved at the news the club is to receive £16,000 grant-aid towards infrastructure improvements at their Mid-Wales Leisure Latham park stadium.
"We are extremely grateful to the Welsh Grounds Improvement company for their financial support and work will start immediately to bring the stadium up to standard, said Durbridge. The club will still have to fund a substantial part of the costs and  obtain a stadium safety certificate.
"Only those clubs that are awarded a Domestic License will be considered for the new Super 12 League which kicks off next season,"  said Durbridge.
Chairman Mike Jones added his thanks to the WGI for the funding and praised secretary Owen Durbridge for his meticulous work in making the application.
"We knew the pot was'nt big enough for all clubs to get what they wanted and it was vital that our submission was done correctly".
However, the chairman added a note of caution saying; "We have always been quietly confident we could obtain the Domestic License but know this will not be enough to keep us in the top league.
"I am certain there will be more than twelve clubs with a D License and therefore our football team has to get us there on merit. Only a top ten position in the league can guarantee us top flight football next season and at the moment we are a long way off that. It has been a disappointing start to our campaign and it will take a remarkable turnaround in our fortunes if we are to make it.
"The transfer window gives us one last chance to get it right and the manager is working hard to strengthen the squad.  It should be a very interesting climax to the season."

Aneurin 'Freddie' Thomas

Four named in Central Wales Youth Sqaud
Four Newtown players have been named in the Central Wales FA Youth Squad to play the North Wales FA.
Jamie Breeze, Chris Carroll, Dan Dawson and Keiron Groves have all been selected for the match which takes place at The Venue, the home of The New Saints, on Tuesday, January 26th.

A glum Darren Ryan

Snowbound Latham Park

Mike Harris

Mike Harris has resigned from FA of Wales Council
The New Saints' managing director Mike Harris has resigned his seat on the Football Association of Wales Council it is reported on the club's website.

Representing the Welsh Premier clubs on the ruling body, Harris said: "I feel that I have gone as far as I can in representing the interests of the league and its clubs.
"I have been unable to obtain satisfactory answers to some issues that I have raised and feel that there could now be a conflict of interest between the Welsh Premier and my own club, The New Saints, which will now be best served by my working outside the shackles of being an FAW Councillor.
"I also want to concentrate my efforts and expertise on further developing The New Saints at a crucial time for the league."
Last month, the FAW did a U-turn on moves to remove the Welsh Premier's seat from its ruling Council.
Former secretary general David Collins had circulated clubs with notice of a special meeting to abolish the position, to which the representative is elected by the 18 league clubs, but the threat was withdrawn.
A fresh election will now be needed to find a successor to take over from Mike Harris.

Mark Dodds

Talks taking place to re-arrange fixtures
Agreemenmt has been reached over the Caersws cancelled game re-arrangements subject to the Welsh Premier League season being extended.
The clubs have agreed to meet at Caersws on Easter Monday, April 5th with the return taking place at Mid Wales Leisure Latham Park on May Bank Holiday Monday, May 3 - subject to the league agreeing to the requested extension to the season. The Esater Monday fixture at Caerses is unlikely to go ahead if the season is not extended.
The homr game with Port Talbot has been agreed for Tuesday, March 16.

Paul Roberts

Marc Lloyd Williams

Darren Ryan

Two more put pen to paper as search goes on
Manager Darren Ryan has captured two of his signing targets.
Goalkpeeper Daved Roberts put pen to paper on Friday and the signing of former Telford youngster James Russell from Chirk was completed yesterday.
Roberts joins on loan from Aberystwyth to add competition for the goalkeeper's shirt while Russell arrives with good references. He has spent the last month training at The New Saints but missed out on his hope of signing for the league leaders.
The manager will be speaking to Richard Williams Cooke, the popular midfielder who left us a couple of seasons ago, this weekend. Rhos Aelwed insisted on the seven day ruling before the club could make the approach.
The Ryan Marriott lolan deal is expected to be completed early next week, once the winger's contractual difficulties at TNS are resolved on Monday. Welshpool's Richie Harris has already signed.