Haverfordwest: Three managers who could replace Wayne Jones
Carmarthen, WALES - 18 September, 2021: Carmarthen Town coach Mark Aizlewood during the warm up. Carmarthen Town v Cambrian & Clydach Vale in the JD Cymru South at Richmond Park on the 18th September 2021. (Pic by Lewis Mitchell/FAW)
Haverfordwest County are on the lookout for a new manager after Wayne Jones tendered his resignation.
The Bluebirds who on paper assembled a squad capable of achieving a top-six spot have underperformed, occupying one of the relegation spots.
Ultimately the job now will be to preserve their top-flight status instead of dreaming of an away day in the Scottish Challenge Cup.
Below are a few people who we believe could be considered as the permanent successor to Jones at the Bridge Meadow.
Mark Aizlewood
Back in the management game as a coach to Sean Cresser at his beloved Carmarthen Town, Aizlewood is your Cymru Premier’s equivalent to perhaps Sam Allardyce or Tony Pulis.
A no-nonsense manager who knows how to get the best out of players on a limited budget, playing a not particularly pleasing brand of football, but one that has got results.
After returning to football following time spent in prison, Aizlewood said to WalesOnline that he owed something to Carmarthen and that there was ‘unfinished business’ which may be a sticking point in luring him somewhere else.
The Old Gold are a club close to his heart and after his departure from the club, they seemed to lose their way a bit.
Andy Legg
A managerial casualty in the Cymru South, Legg left Llanelli Town in the last week and was promptly replaced by Lee John.
The Reds were sixth when his departure was announced from Stebonheath Park.
Perhaps underperforming given their stature and players, it was probably right for both to part company.
Legg however does have experience of playing and managing in the Cymru Premier.
He was part of the Llanelli team which won the Cymru Premier in 2008, offering his experience to a youthful team.
In the dugout, he oversaw a win against Motherwell in the Europa League, but after the money was withdrawn from the club he left.
A brief stint at Bangor City happened but he was sacked after just four months in charge which we thought may have spelt the end of his involvement in Welsh domestic football.
He was appointed as manager of Cardiff City’s Under-23’s side in July 2017 but after an overhaul of the academy system, he was let go in November 2019.
If we look at his recent experience in Welsh football, he may not be the number one candidate for the post but could be a contender.
Dafydd Evans
Manager of Swansea University from 2015 to 2021, Dafydd Evans turned the Students from a fifth tier team to a side that could have been playing in the Cymru Premier.
His side, playing in their first season in the second tier pipped the Bluebirds to the league title, but unfortunately had to watch on as the West Wales side took their place because of licencing issues
A recent student of the FAW Trust’s UEFA Pro Licence course, he matches the requirements set out by the club in their search for the holder of football’s top qualification.
He has since become a Coach Educator at the FAW Trust since leaving his role as first-team manager at Swansea University.
Given he’s only been in the role for a short space of time, this may be a non-starter but a candidate worth considering.
