New contract for manager Williams
MERTHYR Town have given manager Gavin Williams, the locally-born midfielder whose clubs include West Ham and Ipswich, a two-year fulltime contract.
And he has moved swiftly with plans for next season by signing experienced striker Stuart Fleetwood.
Alongside his managerial role, Williams will be working with the academy team to assist with the progression of young players coming through the system and helping with elements of the club’s work in the community.
Williams said: “I’m obviously delighted to have signed this new contract with Merthyr Town. It demonstrates how the club is progressing and hopefully this will be the catalyst to see similar steps being made with first team players in the future.
“I’d like to thank the board and the CEO for their work and support since I became manager last season.”
Gloucester-born Fleetwood, aged 31, has been with 13 clubs and was capped for Wales at under-17s and under-21s level.
He started his career with Cardiff City, joining the club’s youth programme when he was 12. He made one first-team appearance at Cardiff before signing for Hereford (where Gavin Williams began his career) in 2006. He scored eight times in 44 appearances for them.
Forest Green, Eastleigh, Luton and Sutton were among his later clubs. Accrington Stanley, Cheltenham, Brighton and Exeter saw him join their clubs on loan.
He had another spell with Hereford and scored 14 goals in 48 games. He netted goals in 67 appearances for Luton. After going to Forest Green on loan, he then played for Sutton and last season was with Bath City. He made 11 appearances but not being a regular in the team, Fleetwood went to Weymouth on loan and netted 17 goals in a successful spell. The traveling to the south from his Gloucester home was hard going and so he found himself without a club at the end of the season.
He was concentrating on his marriage at the end of the month. Then Gavin Williams offered him a deal.
In March Weymouth boss Jason Matthews had been hoping to cement a permanent deal with the striker.
Fleetwood was quoted in a Hereford newspaper as saying there are some good clubs in the top half of Merthyr’s league – The Evo-Stik Southern League Premier – and he thought promoted Hereford wouldn’t find it easy next season after their promotion.
At the end of the season, he ruled out returning to Weymouth, saying: “The travelling and distance is just too far and isn’t realistic for me and my young family. “Gloucester to Merthyr will be easier.
“This feels like the perfect move and the perfect fit for me. I’ve been in contact with Gavin for a few months and I’m thrilled to be joining a club full of ambition. I know how challenging this league can be after spending a season on loan with Weymouth and I’m looking forward to joining up with the rest of the squad in pre-season.”
Williams revealed: “I’m delighted to announce that Stuart will be joining us next season. His experience and talent will be invaluable as we push towards our goals. It’s great to see that the club is making these steps in the right direction and that we are making positive progress both on and off the pitch.”