What has happened to proud Welsh League club Taffs Well?
Cardiff, Wales. 13th July 2018. Taffs Well host a Cardiff City XI at their Rhiw'r Ddar ground. Lewis Mitchell/Alamy Live News.
Having seen Jamie Sherwood leave his role this week, it begs the question. What has happened to Taffs Well?
The club are in search of their sixth manager in sixteen months in a continued managerial merry-go-round.
They look destined for the drop. They’re are embroiled in a relegation battle which they would do well to get out of, given their league position.
Former Taffs Well boss Lee Bridgeman earlier this week said: “I can’t believe how a club can deteriorate so much in 16 months, it really saddens me” highlighting the Wellmen’s quick fall from grace.
From starting pre-season with Nana Baah to then going to Adrian Needs and then Sherwood, Taffs Well are going through managers at a quick pace.
Lee Bridgeman had initially stood down last season but came back as part of a three-man managerial team. They had a coup in Baah.
Baah was the heir to Bridgeman’s throne after his departure. He had miraculously won the Welsh League Division One title against all the odds with Caerau Ely.
But having managed in the club’s glamour friendly with Cardiff City, he was relieved of his duties.
He’s now with Cwmbran Celtic, working alongside Lee Challenger. But it just shows how the continued turnover at Taffs Well has affected them.
Their biggest regret may be letting Sherwood go so soon when he had the potential to bring something different to Taffs Well.
Sherwood was an ambitious appointment. He had already had experience at Taffs Well but had done his work by managing Yeovil a Town Ladies. His work there put him in good stead for senior management in men’s football.
His contacts through his work with Cardiff & Vale College saw young hungry players come to the club.
Sherwood’s first task would have been to keep the club up this season after their dismal start. Results didn’t always go his way but there was somewhat of a philosophy building under his leadership.
Through every manager that they go through, players seem to go through the door like the managers. What Taffs Well will need for the remainder of the season is stability.
(Featured Image: Lewis Mitchell)
Whilst it is always sad to see a Manager leave a club be it Taff’s Well, Cwmbran Celtic or Ton Pentre! This is a part of football and will always happen. So to the constant migration of players from club to club. I as Taff’s Well Programme editor write and produce enough pen pics to note that most senior players have a string of former clubs after their name. Here at Taff’s Well it has been difficult replacing a very successful manager in Lee Bridgeman. Finally in Steve Williams we hope to have found a person who can finally bring some stability to the role. Despite rumours to the contrary those of us involved in the club at Rhiw Dda’r are optimistic that things are moving in the right direction. We have a successful Youth side that we can and should have been regularly using to bring young talent through into the first team pool. This has not always been the case this season under previous managers. The club are in the middle of finalizing a new management committee and have loads of plans to get the club moving in the right direction. Steve Williams reign began Saturday with a win over Port Talbot Town and the feel good factor was in evidence on a fine afternoon for the club both on and off the pitch. Onwards and upwards, altogether now “Wilo’s at the Well!