Eardley is handed key Cofis’ role
IT has been quite a week at Caernarfon Town Football Club.
Last Saturday, their manager Iwan Williams resigned to join Welsh Premier League club Llandudno on the same afternoon as the Canaries advanced to the last 32 of the Welsh Cup with a 4-1 victory over Berriew.
Then on Monday, Town landed a plum draw at home to Barry Town United in the national knockout before later appointing Sean Eardley as their new first-team manager.
A club statement said: “Sean, who is a highly respected coach in the North Wales area, joined us last summer as assistant-manager and takes over the hot seat vacated by Iwan Williams. Sean has appointed Richard Davies as his assistant with Mike Innes also joining the management team. We are thrilled to have secured our first choice for the role and look forward to working with Sean and his management team as we strive to take the club forward.”
News of Williams’ departure from The Oval after a successful two years in charge to rejoin former club Llandudno certainly raised a few eyebrows when announced.
Caernarfon Town added: “Iwan joined the club during the summer of 2015 and under his leadership the team has enjoyed success that had previously proved beyond us.
“In his first season at the helm, the side won the Huws Gray Alliance League title before adding the league cup to complete a memorable double. Unfortunately, off-thefield matters denied the side promotion to the Welsh Premier and in his second campaign, the side retained the league cup whilst also finishing runners-up in the league and reaching the semi-finals of the Welsh Cup for the first time in 29 years. This season has seen the side continue this sequence as we lie top of the league and today reached the third round of the Welsh Cup. We wish to thank Iwan for all his hard work and also his family for sharing him with the Cofis.”
Williams stressed his decision to leave Caernarfon was far from easy.
He said: “For the last two and a half years, I’ve devoted a number of hours to this fantastic football club and built something I’m immensely proud of. However, for someone as driven and ambitious as myself, the opportunity to join an established Welsh Premier League Club in Llandudno, who I have deep connections with and who have ambitions of challenging for European quali- fication, was something I just couldn’t turn down.
“I’ve probably had some of the fondest moments in my life at Caernarfon Town and made many lifelong friends along the way. Although it’s been a successful stint, we have experienced many ups and downs together which have made me grow as a person and especially as a manager.”
Thanking the many who assisted him during his managerial stint, Williams reserved special mention for the fans: “Thank you very much for all your support and I apologise if you feel I’m letting you down.”