How meeting expectations has kept ambitious Andy Morrison in Nomads job

It was recently revealed the Cymru Premier is the best league for job security for a manager.

The average shelf-life is more than two-and-a-half-years for a coach in the Welsh top flight.

Andy Morrison is the fourth longest-serving manager in the division and can be claimed as a part of the furniture in the Cymru Premier.

After being appointed manager in November 2015, the former Manchester City defender has led them to five consecutive European campaigns, as well as winning a Nathaniel MG Cup, a Welsh Cup and reaching a Scottish Challenge Cup final.

Would he have been afforded that opportunity elsewhere or has his continued success been the reason he’s stayed in the job?

“It’s interesting you say that the Welsh League has given the managers the opportunities to develop and grow. I think there’s a relation to what the expectations are.

“The expectations at Connah’s Quay are to be successful, to win cups, to get into Europe and to challenge for the championship.

“If we weren’t doing that, I’m sure my job would be under question and I think that goes for any manager in the league.

“Whatever the expectations are if you’re falling short of that, I’m sure your job will be questioned, the same as it would any league.

“The league kind of takes care of itself, in all the last few years there’s been patterns of the same teams that have qualified for Europe.

“For some teams, it’s about being sustainable and staying in the league, so it comes in different ways.”

As a result of their first title, a target has been placed on their back by teams in the division.

The New Saints will be eager to claim their authority of the league, as well as other clubs seeing Nomads’ triumph as a motivation for their own club.

“It was always the aim of our football club and it was a realistic opportunity to try and win the league because we’re still nowhere near the investment of TNS.

“Each year we’re improved, so we’re getting there and achieving what we have done is great but we have to surpass that and be stronger and kick on. 

“TNS will bounce back, Barry and Bala look really strong this year. It’s going to be a great challenge, every team that come and play Connah’s Quay, they’re playing the champions, so they’ll raise their game. We’ve got to make sure we can match that and go beyond it.

“We want to do what we’ve tried for the last three years, which is to win the league.

“The first season at the club was about trying to get into the playoffs because we were that far short, we made the play-offs and creep into Europe but from then on, every year we’ve been about wanting to get better and challenge and push TNS.

“We’ve gradually done that over that period of two or three years, and last year we surpassed them so we’re doing the right things and next year will be no different.“

As the club prepares for the Champions League and the upcoming domestic campaign, their squad has remained compact with not too many players coming in or out.

It’s been more about retaining their players then overhauling their squad for their upcoming clash.

The signing of Aeron Edwards from title rivals TNS has fronted their somewhat quiet transfer business, with Danny Davies their only other signing.

Morrison admitted how it has been difficult to attract more players to the club, despite their success: “It’s very similar for a lot of the Welsh teams, it’s quite difficult to attract players across because the profile the player we need has to be able to challenge and look to win the league.

“If you’ve got a top player in the conference and he’s doing really well then he’s going to go into League One/Two.

“The players we target it’s a very small niche market. It isn’t easy to get players to come across and that’s a financial side of things as well because there’s a lot more money in the English system than there is in Wales.

“We’re battling that every season trying to find those motivated players rather than offering just money.“

(Featured Image: Nikitas Mesney)