Cofis boss moves to snap up his title winners
WHILE Caernarfon Town manager Sean Eardley has pledged to bring in new faces for the club’s challenging return to the Welsh Premier League, he has also been busy securing the services of last season’s Huws Gray Alliance title-winning squad.
Eardley has already got captain Nathan Craig, Darren Thomas, Clive Williams, Alex Ramsay, Joe Williams, Danny Brookwell, Gareth Evans and Jamie Breese signed up for the 2018/19 campaign.
Town are back in the Welsh Premier for the first time in 10 years and the boss believes many of last season’s crew have what it takes to succeed at the higher level.
Eardley said: “Nathan’s a good captain, everyone knows his qualities. I’m just made up for him that he will lead his local club out on their first day back in the Welsh Premier.
“It’s going to be a big year for Darren. He’s already had a stab at Welsh Premier football with Aberystwyth and Llangefni. Things maybe didn’t turn out right, but he knows he’s adored by the fans here.
“If a game’s in the balance he can just turn it on his head. We want to get a good pre-season out of him, make him even sharper than he was last season. Clive is an unsung hero. There’s no-one more determined to do well for the club. We’ve fended off a little bit of interest for him, and rightly so, but he didn’t want to go anywhere which was music to our ears. Clive offers versatility and unbelievable levels of consistency.”
As for the retention of goalkeeper Ramsay, defender Williams and winger Brookwell, Eardley added: “They bring experience; they’re relatively young but they’re big-game players.
“Alex is one of the best goalkeepers operating in Welsh system as far as I’m concerned. It’s the aura he brings into the club, the professionalism, his mentality. That aside he’s a fantastic goalkeeper as well.
“Joe is a fans’ favourite who has made the right-back spot his own. He is a Welsh Premier defender as far as I’m concerned; unbelievably consistent, and he’s got a good rapport with the fans.
“He was a big part in getting me to the club, he had a lot of good things to say about Caernarfon Town.
“With the season Danny Brookwell has just had, we knew certain clubs would be interested and that was the case. He’s a game-changer, could win a game on his own, has electrifying pace and great to have around.”
Breese was last season’s top-scorer, while Evans is a classy midfielder with past Welsh Premier experience at Llandudno.
“I’m made up to keep the two of them on board,” added Eardley. “They’ve both had fantastic seasons. Gaz had that little bit of an injury, but when he came back into the side it was clearly evident what effect he had on games.
“He offers so, so much; similar to Danny Brookwell in how he can affect a game. He can stretch defences and has got that little bit of Welsh Premier League experience as well. Breesey is Breesey, another crowd favourite. He deserves the opportunity to test himself at top level, I think he’ll thrive on it.”
Eardley stressed fresh faces will land at The Oval.
“We are looking to strengthen; we are speaking to players, but it’s important we signal our intent and do our best in keeping our squad together.
“I’m buzzing now, watching everything take shape.
“There’s lots of good things going on off the field too and we aim to hit the ground running when the season starts.”