Bangor City: Five managers for Cymru North club to consider including ex-Wrexham defender
Bangor City 1876 are searching for a permanent manager, and the scale of the club’s ambitions means this is no ordinary appointment.
The phoenix club are currently being guided by striker Declan McManus, who is combining his duties on the touchline with the rather more familiar job of putting the ball in the net.
McManus has already hit eight league goals this season as he begins to juggle life as Bangor’s acting player-manager, with the club continuing their search for the man they believe can take the next step in the
It is a big decision for chairman Nick Pritchard and the Bangor board.
They want promotion and, ultimately, they want to see Bangor City back in the Cymru Premier and competing for a place in European football.
That means the next permanent boss needs to have the qualifications and personality to match those ambitions.
Bangor’s manager search
Michael Johnston resigned at the end of August due to work and family commitments, with assistant Sean Eardley initially taking interim charge before subsequently leaving the club.
Chairman Nick Pritchard says Bangor are looking beyond a short-term fix.
“We have interviewed a few managers. We’re interviewing a few more. We had a few ideas of recruiting internally but decided against it for several reasons.
“The next manager has to be of a strong personality, of strong calibre. We’re in a tough season, because of what’s happened. We’re in a tough league now.”
The successful candidate must therefore hold at least a UEFA A Licence, with a UEFA Pro Licence or actively working towards one preferred.
And there has been plenty of interest, with 35 managers applying, including some with previous international management experience.
With that in mind, here are five names we believe Bangor City 1876 could consider. These are journalistic suggestions only and not claims that any have applied.
Chris Hughes
A name that immediately makes sense in a Welsh football context.
Chris Hughes has extensive Cymru Premier experience after more than a decade in charge of Newtown, where he led the club to a Welsh Cup final and three qualifications for UEFA competition. He is also a UEFA Pro Licence holder.
Hughes knows the Welsh game.
He knows what it takes to build a competitive side without the resources enjoyed by the country’s biggest clubs. Hughes has experience of taking a club into Europe. That last point would certainly fit the longer-term vision.
He has also worked as a video analyst at The New Saints, adding another dimension to his coaching background. For a club looking for somebody who understands the Welsh pyramid inside out, Hughes would be an astute appointment.
Huw Griffiths
Another name with a strong North Wales connection and plenty of experience at the level Bangor ultimately want to reach.
Huw Griffiths enjoyed two successful spells managing Cefn Druids, guiding them to a Welsh Cup final, promotion to the top flight and European football. He was also named Welsh Premier League Manager of the Season in 2018 after taking Druids into the Europa League.
He later took charge of Caernarfon Town in 2020, leading the Canaries to a Cymru Premier play-off final win, qualifying for the Scottish Challenge Cup, before departing in March 2023.
There is an obvious Bangor connection, too. Griffiths played for the Citizens between 2001 and 2004 and was previously part of Peter Davenport’s coaching staff at the club. He also holds the UEFA Pro Licence.
That combination makes him an intriguing fit for the current brief.
He knows the North Wales football scene inside out, has experience of building competitive sides in the Welsh pyramid and, crucially, has already taken clubs from this part of the world into European competition.
Griffiths has been out of management since leaving Caernarfon in 2023, so a return to the dugout would represent another chapter for a manager who knows exactly what it takes to make an impact in Welsh football.
Sam Ricketts
This one would certainly catch the eye of the Nantporth faithful.
Former Wales international Sam Ricketts has plenty of experience in the Welsh and English game, having managed Wrexham and Shrewsbury Town before stepping away from football in 2020.
The 44-year-old played a major role in Hull City’s remarkable promotion to the Premier League in 2008/09, but his post-management career has taken a very different path.
After leaving Shrewsbury in November 2020, Ricketts turned his attention to the construction trade, opening a builder’s merchants and stepping away from football.
He has now been out of management for several years, so a return to the dugout would represent a significant change.
But the credentials are clear. A 52-cap Wales international, former Swansea City player and manager with experience from the National League through to League One, Ricketts would bring considerable pedigree to the Gwynedd outfit.
There is no suggestion that Ricketts has applied for the vacancy, but with Bangor seeking a strong personality and a manager capable of matching their long-term ambitions, his name is certainly one worth putting on the radar.
Steve Evans
Steve Evans is currently assistant manager at Flint Town United, having returned to that role when Lee Fowler was reappointed first-team boss in June. Evans had briefly taken charge himself earlier in 2026
As Colwyn Bay boss, he guided the club to promotion into the Cymru Premier for the first time in their history before leaving following their relegation in 2024.
His playing CV is equally strong. Evans enjoyed a hugely successful spell with The New Saints, also played for hometown club Wrexham and won seven Wales caps. In 2008, he became the first non-league player since 1930 to be capped by Wales.
He then moved into coaching with TNS before taking the Colwyn Bay job, meaning he has experience both as a senior assistant and as a first-team manager.
And, importantly for Bangor, he has made no secret of his desire to manage again. When he was apppointed as assistant to Lee Fowler in 2024, he said this.
“Although I’m still ambitious of becoming a manager in the future, I see this as a fantastic opportunity for both myself and Flint,” Evans said when joining the Flint coaching set-up.
“I’ll be coming in to provide assistance to Lee and with my extensive experience in the Welsh Premier League, I’m confident I can bring valuable knowledge and a positive attitude to the club.”
Gareth Wilson
Another name who could be worth considering is Gareth Wilson, the long-serving Brickfield Rangers manager.
Wilson has his side currently sitting top of the Cymru North, an impressive position given the likes of Bala Town and Bangor City 1876 were among the teams expected to challenge for the title.
His work has already been recognised, too, with Wilson recently named Novira Cymru North Manager of the Month for July/August. Brickfield took 15 points from their opening 18, including a 5-0 victory over Gresford Athletic.
He has been in charge at Brickfield since 2020, having previously held coaching and management roles with clubs including Prestatyn Town.
He has built up considerable experience in the Welsh pyramid and knows the North Wales football scene inside out. His Brickfield side also enjoyed a hugely successful 2024/25 campaign, winning the Ardal North West title and earning promotion.
He would represent a different type of appointment to some of the more high-profile names on this list, but with Bangor looking for someone capable of helping take the club towards the Cymru Premier, Wilson is another North Wales-based manager who could merit consideration.
