Shearan returns to manage Riverboaters

FOOTBALL

ADRIAN Shearan has returned as manager at Nathaniel Cars Welsh League Division Three club Caerau, writes Tony Poole.

In a game of managerial musical chairs, last season’s Riverboat chief Gareth Darks has navigated a passage back to Betws.

Shearan sprung to prominence back in 2013/14 when he guided now defunct Caerau Link into runners-up spot to Trefelin Boys Club in South Wales Amateur League Division One.

During the same campaign Caerau suffered a disastrous season in Welsh League Division Two.

The Riverboaters won just one of 30 league matches and were duly relegated, and during the close season it led to a merger between the Caerau and Caerau Link clubs.

Shearan became Riverboat chief and he steadied a rocking boat during the 2014/15 season in steering Caerau into 12th spot.

The following year, Caerau seemed to be heading back towards Division Two before fading during the business end of the season and finishing fifth.

It resulted in Darks last summer switching from Betws to Caerau – and once more Caerau again flattered only to deceive.

They could only finish fourth behind champions Llantwit Major, STM Sports and Chepstow Town – and it was a case of “Back to the Future” with regard to the Riverboat manager’s mooring.

The return of Shearan came during the club’s AGM, and has come at a time when Caerau have moved in to a plush new clubhouse close to the Riverboat in the Sports Bar

However, Shearan is faced with a rebuilding brief with regard team matters, as last year’s top scorer Tom Walters has already signed for Division One club Goytre United.

Wide operator Dylan Llewellyn has gone to Port Talbot Town while Rhys Dyke is expected to take time off from the game owing to a family illness.

But Lewis Kingdon has switched from Llangynwyd Rangers while Ricardo James has headed back to Caerau from the Cape.

Keane Watts (Maesteg Park), Gavin Andrews (Afan Lido) and wandering Cornelly Utd star Shaun Duffy all form targets.

So, another summer of change in the Llynfi Valley is in prospect ahead of the Welsh League campaign kicking off on August 11.