Afan Lido announce departure of key figure ahead of Llanelli Town clash

Afan Lido have announced that general manager Lee John has left the club by mutual consent, bringing an end to his spell at the Cymru South side.

The 43-year-old was appointed to the role at the beginning of the season, taking charge of the first team while also overseeing the development of the club’s reserve side.

His departure comes with Lido preparing to face Llanelli Town on Friday, October 23, against the backdrop of a challenging start to their league campaign.

In a statement, the club confirmed: “Afan Lido has today parted company with General Manager Lee John by mutual consent.

“Lee was appointed to the role at the beginning of the season, taking charge of the first team as well as overseeing the progression of the development squad on which he had a significant impact in getting up and running.

“We would like to thank Lee for all his efforts and hard work during his time at the club.”

Lee John leaves Afan Lido after mixed start to season

John’s exit comes after he was listed among the technical staff for Afan Lido’s 3-2 defeat to Penybont in the Welsh Cup.

The experienced football figure had joined the club at the beginning of the campaign, with responsibilities extending beyond the first team to include establishing and progressing the development squad.

Lido’s reserve side are competing in their first season back as a reserves team since the 2021/22 campaign, with the club crediting John for helping to get the team up and running.

At the time of his departure, the reserves sit ninth in their league, having recorded one win in six matches and sitting above three other teams.

Afan Lido sit 10th in Cymru South after 11 matches

The first team have endured a mixed start to the Cymru South season, with three wins, three draws and five defeats from their opening 11 league fixtures.

Those results leave Lido 10th in the table as they look to improve their position over the coming weeks.

Attention now turns to Friday’s meeting with Llanelli Town, who will provide a particularly familiar challenge for John given his previous connection with the club.

The fixture, scheduled for October 23, comes shortly after his departure from Afan Lido and will see his former side take on the team he managed for more than four years.

Former Llanelli Town boss John had been appointed assistant manager in January

John previously managed Llanelli Town from November 2021 until January 2026, establishing a lengthy spell in charge before he was relieved of his duties Stebonheath Park.

He was named assistant manager to Lee Surman in January, a fortnight after being relieved of his duties at Llanelli.

His former club have also experienced changes behind the scenes in recent months, having parted ways with manager Terry Boyle and general manager Colin Staples.

With John now leaving Afan Lido, both clubs have undergone significant changes to their football leadership as the Cymru South campaign continues.