The new Cymru Premier season, which gets underway on Saturday, is set to be one we have never seen the like of before.
After a premature end to last season’s campaign, with the league being decided off the pitch, there is a hope this campaign will reach a sporting conclusion.
For the first time in nine years, The New Saints begin as the challengers rather than the champions.
Y Clwb Pêl-Droed’s Jordan Jones has assessed each side ahead of the new season.
Aberystwyth Town
Last season: 9th
Predicted finish: 5th
Gavin Allen’s appointment at Park Avenue gives a feeling of renewed optimism.
Allen has been the second-hand man to many managers over the last few years, but now he is the head honcho.
Assisted by Antonio Corbisiero and Bari Morgan, the trio know Aberystwyth and the Cymru Premier.
The recruitment drive under the new Black and Greens boss is to be admired, too.
In previous years, the club has featured a majority of players from the north of England or the Midlands, but there is now a strong emphasis of local and Welsh talent in the squad.
Their only blow was Touray Sisay’s move to Grimsby Town, but that is something they could not really stop as they were powerless to resist a an approach from a Football League club.
Jamie Veale, Owain Jones and Rhys Davies are young Welsh players who are new to the league, but those three could impress for Aber this season.
Other business includes a return to Park Avenue for Harri Rowe following a successful spell with Haverfordwest County.
As well as this, they have added George Harry, Sam Barnes and Steve Hewitt, who all have experience of playing in the Welsh top flight.
Two local boys – Jonathan Evans and Steff Davies – are additions which should go down well with locals given their links to the area.
For years, you have to say Aberystwyth have underperformed, other than a Welsh Cup final in 2018, a club like Aber needs to be competing.
It’s why with Allen at the helm, alongside players who he will have had an influence in signing, I am predicting a top-six finish for them.
Bala Town:
Last season: 3rd
Predicted finish: 3rd
I’ve predicted a same-placed finish as last season, however they could genuinely be considered as title contenders this season too.
There have been no key departures and, instead, they’ve improved their squad with the emphasis being on more local players with experience of the league.
Barry Town United
Last season: 4th
Predicted finish: 6th
Looking at their transfer business, Barry have brought Curtis Jemmett-Hutson and Mikey George back to Jenner Park from Penybont.
These are two players who are known to the club and, having been opponents last year, Gavin Chesterfield will have seen something in them that he was impressed by.
Their marquee signing this summer is a long-term target, Nat Jarvis. A former Cardiff City youngster, the Antiguan international knew where the net was at Chippenham.
One-goal victories have become synonymous with Barry Town at home so the signing of Jarvis perhaps highlights their desire to improve in an attacking sense.
Despite retaining the majority of their squad, I see this Barry team taking a hit this season as they accept a lower finish than their past two seasons.
Instead, emphasis could be placed on bringing cup silverware back to Jenner Park.
Caernarfon Town
Last season: 5th
Predicted finish: 11th
Key departures such as Alex Ramsay, Jamie Breese, Leo Smith and set-piece specialist Nathan Craig are a factor in why I’ve placed them so low.
It’s testament to the club for retaining these players for as long as they did but, with a key core taken out of the side, there is already pressure on the replacements to match the standard.
What Caernarfon do have, however, is a manager with a vast amount of experience in the league in Huw Griffiths.
Griffiths has scoured a number of his targets and with Josh Tibbetts and Mike Hayes posing that experience, there is at least some quality to match those who have gone through the exit door.
Another factor on Caernarfon’s placing is that they may struggle behind-closed-doors.
Depending on how long games are played without spectators, they could be the team to suffer the most.
It’s obvious the Cofi Army is a driving factor in the way the club operates and, without them, it could have a detrimental effect.
The Canaries have boasted the best attendances in the league for the past two seasons, and the club will want them back as soon as possible.
Cardiff Metropolitan
Last season: 7th
Predicted finish: 9th
It’s been a difficult summer for the Archers, who have lost a core of their squad.
Reliable defender Joel Edwards has returned home to Westfields, whilst Mael Davies and Will Evans have remained in the league with their rivals.
Most recently, tricky winger Jordan Lam left for a second time.
They have worked to replace them by bringing in CJ Craven, Jac Davies and Keiron Proctor, however.
Met thrive off the underdog tag and have long been written off before and proved those wrong, so despite their low placing, expect them to still be competitive.
Cefn Druids
Last season: 8th
Predicted finish: 12th
Key departures such as James Davies, Nathan Peate, captain Neil Ashton and Ramirez Howarth highlight how difficult a task it is for the Druids to compete this season.
During pre-season, a number of youth players have come into the squad and they will have to quickly get to grips with the challenges of the league.
Bruno Lopes is the man to lead the Druids into this new era as they move on from their time under Huw Griffiths.
This is an astute appointment for the club, who will no doubt use his contacts book to attract some high-calibre players.
Based on their current squad, however, I predict they may struggle.
This is perhaps harsh on the Druids, who may move a few places higher once their transfer business is finished.
Connah’s Quay Nomads
Last season: 1st
Predicted finish: 2nd
Connah’s Quay will enter uncharted territory when they begin this season.
They have The New Saints, who will be eager to claim their crown back, but there is also a chasing pack.
Their title success is a motivation to other clubs that it can be achieved.
The signing of Aeron Edwards from title rivals TNS highlights their growth as a club, and he will add that experience of someone who knows how to win a league multiple times.
The Nomads’ only other business was Danny Davies from Prestatyn Town.
In terms of departures, no key players have really departed other than the 2018/19 Player of the Year Michael Bakare.
The title race looks set to be hard-fought, and the Nomads shouldn’t be discounted in their defence of their maiden honour.
Flint Town United
Last season: 2nd (Cymru North)
Predicted finish: 8th
Relegated with Rhyl in 2017, manager Niall McGuiness returns to the league with a point to prove.
Still one of the youngest managers in the Cymru Premier, this Flint side look capable of staying up and more.
The additions of Nathan Craig, Rob Hughes and Wes Baynes highlight how much the Silkmen mean business.
Haverfordwest County
Last season: 2nd (Cymru South)
Predicted finish: 10th
A strong pre-season for the Bluebirds saw them draw with Barry and beat both Aberystwyth and Cardiff Metropolitan.
If they can continue that form into the competitive season, then they should be competitive as they aim to stave off the threat of relegation.
As a club, they’ve been relegated from the Welsh top-flight three times, and will be eager to avoid the drop.
Their recruitment policy seems to be signing the best young players from the Cymru South.
With the motivation to perform and take this opportunity, it may pay off.
Newtown
Last season: 6th
Predicted finish: 4th
Newtown are usually a club which goes about their business under the radar.
This summer, however, the Robins have been a club which everyone can admire when it comes to their dealings in the transfer market.
Only losing George Harry, as well as loanee Lifumpa Mwandwe and a few others, Chris Hughes has added to a squad which doesn’t always get the recognition it deserves.
Hughes has been astute in the transfer market and has nurtured players like Jason Oswell and Shane Sutton.
This summer, however, there is no key departures to dwell on or replace, instead they’re a club who appear to be looking up rather than down.
George Hughes, Jamie Breese, James O’Neill, James Davies and Jordan Evans are all signings which could elevate them to a higher position.
Penybont
Last season: 10th
Predicted finish: 7th
Before the season was curtailed, Penybont were becoming streetwise to the league with wins over Aberystwyth and Cardiff Met.
During their maiden season in the Welsh top-flight, they took points off Connah’s Quay, and valiantly fought to narrow defeats against The New Saints.
With a year of top-flight football under Griffiths and his squad’s belt, I’m predicting progression for this squad.
The New Saints
Last season: 2nd
Predicted finish: 1st
Top dogs in Welsh football for eight consecutive years prior to last season, The New Saints go into this as the chaser rather than the one who is being chased.
The average age of the squad has been reduced even further, but the quality remains the same, or even stronger.
Leo Smith, Louis Robles and Ryan Astles all had a feeling of the Welsh top-flight before joining TNS, but both Robles and Smith are still relatively young.
The last time TNS didn’t win the league, they claimed the league title the season after, needing an end-of-the-season shootout with Bangor City to decide things.
With the title being decided off the pitch, The New Saints will have that fire in their belly to regain the title.
(Featured Image: Nikitas Mesney)
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