Taffs Well have announced former Yeovil Town Ladies manager Jamie Sherwood as their new manager.
Sherwood replaces the departing Adrian Needs who stood down from his role due to work commitments.
He returns to Rhiw’r Ddar having previously worked as a caretaker alongside Lee Bridgeman and Mark Sampson. The 39-year-old is the current Head of Football at Cardiff & Vale College.
On his appointment, Sherwood expressed his delight in being appointed as Taffs Well manager: “I am really excited by this opportunity to be associated with such an established and competitive club and it is such an honour.
“To say I’m excited by this opportunity is an understatement.
“I cannot wait to meet the players and share the ideas the club has and watching them develop and show that togetherness that will be needed to maximise this clubs opportunities moving forward.”
He will work closely with Tom Redman, who oversees Taffs Well’s youth team. The club now have plans to implement an academy and a women’s team.
“I know that the club are working behind the scenes to ensure the structure and framework is sustainable, secure and robust enough to drive the club forward and ensure the vision becomes the reality.
General manager Lee Bridgeman is hopeful that Taffs Well be an attraction for young players to come and play for the club.
Earlier this summer, he was appointed as Director of Football of Yeovil Town Ladies, having stood down as manager, as the Glovers claimed full-time status.
Yeovil finished bottom of the Women’s Super League last season, having competed with professional sides Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City. This was after Sherwood had taken the club to the Women’s Super League 2 title the season before last.
Former Taffs Well manager Lee Bridgeman was last week appointed general manager of the club and he was tasked in taking the club to a new direction.
The Four-time Welsh Football League Cup winner identified Sherwood as the man to lead the club forward as his and was delighted to appoint him as Adrian Needs’ successor.
“I’ve known Jamie for a long time and have watched him develop not just only as a manager but as a person over the years.
“This is a real coup for the club, added Bridgeman
“I have felt for the last few years the club had to go in the direction of developing players from within.
I feel with the structure we aim to put in place it will mean that they will. I really feel this is the start of a new chapter and an exciting one for the club.”
Sherwood’s first game in charge of the Wellmen will be next week when they travel to Plough Road to face Gwent side Goytre.
Ahead of taking charge of his first game, Sherwood said the aim to restore pride in the Taffs Well shirt.
A number of players left in the summer, with Taffs Well forced to play a youthful side.
“Our first job is to ensure that everyone who pulls on a Yellow and Black shirt are prepared to give their everything for this club and that starts this weekend.”
Taffs Well are currently second from bottom of the Division One table, having registered just one win all season.
(Featured Image: Ian Fitzell of ExpoSport)
Leave a Reply