Greatest Cymru Premier winning manager – who deserves the title?
Just who is the best manager in the Cymru Premier era? That is the question that needs answering.
Since the then League of Wales was formed in 1992, a number of managers have transformed the league
Some came, saw and conquered and left whilst there are others who hold an affiliation for the league.
We’ve compiled a list of managers who have won Wales’ top prize and are revered for their contribution to Welsh football.
Below is each manager with a case to plead in why they’re the best. It’s up you to decide by voting in our poll.
Craig Harrison
The six-time Cymru Premier winning manager should be a hot favourite for the poll, with his record almost untouchable.
Harrison, 42, was part of a dynasty at Park Hall, where they dominated Welsh football for a number of years after being headhunted from Airbus UK.
Under his guidance, they claimed a world record of consecutive victories, winning 27 games in a row.
Now first-team coach to Andy Morrison at the Connah’s Quay Nomads after stints with Bangor City and Hartlepool United.
Gary Barnett
A key part of Barry’s first title wining side in 1995/1996 under Paul Giles, Barnett was influential to their reign of the Cymru Premier as player-manager.
In a playing career which saw him play for clubs like Fulham and Huddersfield, Barnett brought that professionalism to Wales.
He led Barry to three consecutive league titles, going the whole season unbeaten in 1997/1998. In those title winning seasons, he also claimed three League Cups, a Welsh Cup and an FAW Premier Cup.
Playing over 130 games for the Linnets, Barnett was inducted into the Sgorio Hall of Game in April 2013.
Ken McKenna
Having started his career in the league as a player, Ken McKenna is one of the leading examples of how you can make it as a player and manager.
He scored 38 goals in 35 matches in the 1994/95 season for Conwy United, an impressive record which is still to be beaten.
Moving to Llansantffraid as they were known then, he won the title as a player in 2000 as they ended Barry’s four years of dominance.
As Llansantffraid began their growth into Total Network Solutions and then The New Saints, McKenna was part of what would be the start of the winning machine that is TNS today.
Leading them to three consecutive league titles from 2005 to 2007, McKenna bred a winning mentality into his players.
He would later stand down from his role, taking charge of Camel Laird and Altrincham in the English non-leagues before following Jim Bentley o Morecambe and now AFC Fylde.
In January 2013, Sgorio included him in their Hall of Fame.
Nigel Adkins
Having joined the Citizens as a player in 1993, Nigel Adkins probably wouldn’t have predicted he would become manager just two months into his Citizens career.
Having been a goalkeeper for Tranmere Rovers and Wigan Athletic, Adkins took on the role as player-manager and won Bangor their first Welsh Premier League title.
Proving it wasn’t a flash in the pan, he won the title for a second consecutive season as they finished nine points ahead nearest placed Afan Lido and were just four goals short of a century.
Adkins was awarded Manager of the Year in both years that he had league winning success but left in February 1996.
He would later become a physio for Scunthorpe United after a decade of taking time out of management.
The 55-year-old was thrust into the The Iron hot seat after Brian Law’s departure and brought them success as he took them to the Championship.
He would later manage Southampton and guide them to the Premier League where he would become the first manager to manage in the English and Welsh Premier League.
His time in the English Premier League was short-lived as he was replaced by former Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino.
Adkins later managed Reading and Sheffield United before recently leaving Hull City.
He’s another person on this list who was inducted into the Hall of Fame by Sgorio.
Scott Ruscoe
Making the transition from a player to assistant manager to now the chief, Scott Ruscoe has won the Cymru Premier in his first two seasons of senior management.
Working under Craig Harrison during the most successful era of The New Saints’ history.
Peter Nicholas
The only manager in the league to have won the title with two different teams.
Wales international Peter Nicholas continued Barry’s dominance of the league from the late nineties to the early 2000s.
In his first job in management, the former Arsenal midfielder won the title before going to Newport County.
He’d return to the Welsh pyramid with Llanelli leading them to League and Cup success. One of the standouts of his tenure at Stebonheath Park was beating Motherwell in European qualifying.
A two-time Manager of the Season winner for his title winning exploits.
Kenny Brown
After a career which saw him play for Norwich City and West Ham United, Kenny Brown made his first steps into management by taking over Barry Town.
The Barking born defender continued his playing career alongside management as he guided Barry to two back-to-back titles.
Tony Wilcox
The first manager to get his hands on Wales’ top prize, Tony Wilcox led Cwmbrân Town to success in the inaugural season of the then League of Wales.
Wilcox was a driving factor in the success that the Crows had in the nineties and took them on a number of European campaigns.
His connection to the Gwent club was so strong that he was dubbed ‘Mr Cwmbran.
Andy Cale
The first manager to deliver title to success to the the title winning machine that is The New Saints, Andy Cale won the title for the club back in the 2000 season.
As The New Saints wouldn’t know what awaited them, this title-winning side was known for ending the years of dominance of Barry Town.
He later went on to manage Newtown but left in 2011. Cale is now a University lecturer in Worcester.
Neville Powell
He may have only won the Cymru Premier once despite serving a considerable time in the league but the one league title he delivered for Bangor City was a memorable one.
The 56-year-old was the key mastermind to toppling a professional New Saints who had trained full time with a plucky semi-professionalCitizens side.
He would taste league success on the final day as they defeated full-time outfit The New Saints in a final day shootout at Farrar Road.
Neville managed Connah’s Quay for 14 years before making his way to Bangor City, leading them to three consecutive Welsh Cups.
He later moved to Aberystwyth Town as a Director of Football after leaving Bangor in 2016, taking the Seasiders to the Welsh Cup final.
Alan Bickerstaff
Manager of Rhyl in their second title winning season, he left immediately after his success.
Under Bickerstaff the Lilies achieved the highest ever Welsh Premier points total in a 34-game season and enjoyed a club best sequence of 12 straight league victories.
Alan had a brief spell at The Oval as manager of Caernarfon Town but departed as they were unsuccessful in the Europa League playoffs.
John Hulse
Hulse spent six seasons with Rhyl and made them into a strong Cymru Premier outfit having managed them in five European campaigns.
Following 12 months as assistant to Lee Williams, Hulse took over in 2002 and won the Welsh Premier League Cup in his first season.
The following year, Rhyl won the treble, winning the Welsh Premier title, Welsh Cup and the League Cup.
Paul Giles
Another name on this list who won the league as a player-manager, former Cardiff City attacker Paul Giles led Barry to their first league title in 1996, in doing so he won the league title.
The success would be continued by someone else at Jenner Park though. Giles instead, moved to Ebbw Vale and then InterCardiff.
So you’ve heard the cases for each manager, now make your vote heard.
Vote via our live blog below and discuss with us who you think is the greatest manager in the history of the league.
(Featured Image: NCM Media)
