Welsh football club withdraw - week from first game

Welsh football club Taffs Well have resigned from the Adran Leagues just over a week before the start of the new season.

The Adran South club, known as the Wellmen, are withdrawing from the league according to Cymru Sport.

They become the second club that competed in the 2025/26 edition to fold. Llanelli Town, who were relegated at the expense of Taffs Well having finished bottom, are not running a senior Women’s team this season.

Taffs Well were due to begin their Adran Trophy campaign next week.

The decision comes after a summer of significant change at Rhiw’r Ddar, with manager Chris Hooper stepping down from his role.

Craig Bowles was subsequently appointed as his replacement in the dugout, but a number of player departures have left the club short of players heading into the new campaign.

The Wellmen have announced just one new arrival during the summer, with the departures leaving Bowles with a depleted squad and the club unable to continue in the Adran Leagues.

The resignation means Taffs Well will not take their place in the Adran South this season, with the club’s decision coming only days before competitive action was due to get under way.

Implications for Welsh football as Adran South vacancy expected to be filled

With the Adran South not due to get underway until September 27, it’s being reported by Cymru Sport that their vacancy could be filled.

Both Cambrian United and Penydarren obtained Tier Two Licences last season, with Cambrian finishing second to league winners Llanrumney United. Penydarren finished seventh, and so Cambrian’s on-the-pitch efforts would be recognised should they be promoted.

This would, however, have implications on the feeder division, with Caerau Ely recently winning a spot to be promoted to the South Wales Women’s and Girls League, defeating Clydach.

Welsh foootball - Rianne Jones of Taffs Well Women and Georgia Eloise Brown of Taffs Well Women during the Genero Adran South 2025/26 fixture Taffs Well Women vs Llanelli Town Women at Rhiw Dda'r, Cardiff, Wales — *Rianne Jones left Taffs Well to join the ambitious Pure Swansea. (Pic by Jamie Edwards)*

Player departures left Taffs Well facing difficult rebuilding task

Taffs Well’s decision to withdraw from the league came after the club faced an increasingly difficult task of replacing several key players who departed during the summer.

Among the most significant losses was Rianne Jones, who joined Adran South rivals Pure Swansea after an impressive campaign with Taffs Well.

The 24-year-old scored 11 goals in all competitions last season, including eight in the league, while also registering three assists.

Jones was not the only player to move on. Chrissy Kidley and Alisha Northmore both joined newly promoted Llanrumney United, while Michaela Major made the switch to Cambrian United.

The departures left Taffs Well needing to replace several established members of their squad, including one of their leading attacking threats, at the same time.