At this time of the season, with what should have been the final round of fixtures in the inaugural Cymru South season, consideration would have been given to the Manager of the Year.
Nominations have been deliberated upon each month, recognition of the Clubs achievement over a snapshot of the season and rightly acknowledges the day to day work by the Manager.
To take that accolade for the year that person must meet have had a significant impact to accomplish the aims of the Club from pre-season in June this season and with it promotion to the Cymru Premier League.
Without precedence from previous seasons Clubs were embarking on a pathway which for some earmarked promotion from the off whilst for others, it was consolidation and finding their feet in a League where the intention was to improve the quality over the thirty games.
Llanelli were identified as potential champions under Andy Hill to make a swift return at the first attempt, that disappearing in the depths of winter as Hill resigned his position, replaced by former reds frontman Mark Dickenson who took a while to adjust himself to the task of bedding into the role and with it his side’s chances of promotion.
Two sides from last seasons Welsh League Division Two, champions STM Sports managed by Nana Baah and Swansea University have both plunged themselves into the leagues top six.
Dafydd Evans students side are sitting a point clear at the season’s suspension so abruptly in late March, the head honcho having spoken candidly all season on the expectations of his squad.
He was the monthly award winner for December as his side with an average age of twenty also juggling fixtures in the BUCS league alongside their Cymru South commitments.
The pinnacle for Evans is a place in the top echelons of Welsh football like Cardiff Met have done already, that compounded somewhat as Evans has had to overcome an absence of key players due to a measles outbreak on the return to studies for the students, his mantra fully tested through juggling of players and at times their positions.
Rightly he makes the ‘top three categories’ nomination list and if the seasons resumes and they lift the trophy, his award would without question.
Baah’s STM have reached from dizzy heights this season having reached the Nathaniel MG Cup final. The 3G pitch at Llanrumney witnessing epic games showing the side have the capability to achieve the aims of the Cymru Premier, albeit perhaps in the next two seasons as the quality and consistency required within the squad will be addressed.
Pre season talk was of Ammanford Town, with the recruitment of former Swansea City stars Lee Trundle and Andy Robinson to their ranks making a name for themselves, manager Gruff Harrison marshalling the ‘black and white’ army to be promotion candidates and into the latter stages of the Welsh Cup.
His award for September thanks to a 100% win record had everyone talking but injuries and availability saw the challenge ended, Harrison at one stage missing six important names off the team sheet and its testament of his knowledge that his side at times have produced the best football in the by a League South side, in a Welsh Cup game on live television which saw them destroy Premier League Carmarthen Town 4-0.
Last season’s runners up Cambrian and Clydych again keep the Rhondda Valley name on the lips of observers, manager Dane Williams side flirting with a top-three position whilst never quite touching the heights of last season.
A failure to take the points in the key games eliminating his chances of being added to the ‘top three nominees’ list, although he did have the satisfaction of taking the initial commendation in August and the final one in February, as his side went unbeaten.
The final two names to be included on the nominee list would be Carl Shaw of Briton Ferry Llansawel and Wayne Jones of Haverfordwest County, the latter’s Bluebirds side on the cusp of a place in the Premier League by virtue of being in a top-two position and achieving the necessary paperwork for achieving a Club Licence.
Shaw, a veteran of the management circuit with the Neath based side has brought all his acumen as a formidable striker to the dugout, those skills now perfected to an extent that the off field support from the Club gives them every opportunity to stride ahead next season.
The former Eagles forward has been fruitful in recruiting experienced Welsh League players whilst also developing the Clubs youth academy, despite the youngster’s spectacles of being bottom of the Youth Division. The reds were top off the League at Christmas with it all to play for on the playing surface at Old Road is as good as it comes in the league.
Shaw, insistent on principles of play which support his ideology and are epitomised when his side were in full flow not reaching the heights at the business end of the season to maintain the promotion charge, suffice to record he picked up the monthly accolades for October and November.
Wayne Jones goal for this season was a place in the Premier League for Haverfordwest County after a three-year exile and the recruitment of former Penybont trio Kieran Howard, Sam Rodon and Marcus Griffiths, former Llanelli centre half Scott Tannock and Miles John helped the early season form.
They have been title contenders from the outset, with Jones managing his squad in the absence of key players through long term injury and suspension.
The recruitment of goalkeeper Kelland Absalom was also pivotal for Jones who oversaw a return to form which saw his side do everything but take the three points in the final game before the suspension, a 1-1 draw at Swansea University.
A final ovation from the top three nominees may have to wait for the unfurling of the season end, when the final league table may not lie in just how the manager has best used their resources over the season.
It would be questioned on how as he overhauled the squad, with permanent and loan additions playing exciting and attacking football, whilst shoring up the defence to concede fewer goals?
Many squads, the University side excluded, use academy players and with the 100k of Euros, a reward for Premier League promotion it’s a key element of any managers performance and thinking.
Any one of the three nominees deserves further recognition in answering these questions, although those who have not been included may well have the fortitude to highlight their own abilities and assets to the readers.
(Featured Image: Lewis Mitchell)
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