Barry Town are on the search for a new manager after parting ways with promotion-winning boss Lee Kendall earlier this week.
Kendall led the Linnets to the Cymru South and Welsh Blood Service League Cup last season, picking up from the long-serving Gavin Chesterfield who left to become academy manager at Cardiff City. The Jenner Park club are now on the search for a new manager nine months after Chesterfield’s exit.
Whoever picked up from Chesterfield had big shoes to fill and Kendall did just that, but the two parties mutually agreed to terminate his two-year contract, and the next appointment will be crucial. Kendall’s successor will be tasked with keeping the club in the league but also building a platform in helping them get back into Europe.
Below we take a look at five candidates that could be considered for the role, with some obvious and some, not so obvious…
Embed from Getty ImagesSteve Jenkins
Jenkins has been working at Cardiff City’s Under-18’s for the last two years, first becoming their assistant manager and then manager last year. The 51-year-old’s previous managerial experience includes Monmouth Town in which he won the Welsh League title, as well as Merthyr Town. He has held assistant roles at Hereford United, phoenix club Hereford, and Barnet.
He had a 22-year playing career which began at Swansea City where he made 165 league appearances before moving on to Huddersfield Town, enjoying a seven-year spell in Yorkshire where he became club captain. His other clubs include Cardiff, Notts County, Peterborough United, Swindon Town, Worcester City, and then later on in his career Newport County and Llanelli. He was capped for Wales 16 times making his debut in 1995 against Germany, playing in the same team as Dean Saunders, Ryan Giggs, Gary Speed, and Neville Southall.
Y Clwb Pêl-droed understands that Jenkins is a front-runner for the role and that an appointment at Jenner Park wouldn’t come as a major surprise, despite the role being advertised to other candidates.
Kevin Nicholson
Perhaps the ship has sailed for Nicholson and Welsh domestic football, with the 37-year-old now working as the Global Lead of Football Development at Double Pass. He gets to go to different countries and help assist coaches, picking up some valuable experience along the way.
A few years ago though he was in charge of Bangor City, and guided them to a second-placed finish. His Citizens side played some nice stuff and he had some good players playing under him. If it wasn’t for them failing their Tier 1 Licence application and subsequently being relegated, who knows where Bangor would be now?
He volunteered with a few clubs in the South Wales area and was actually their first-team coach for a brief period. Nicholson worked under Gavin Chesterfield for a period but he has his own ideas and now may be able to implement them.
Jonathan Jones
Jones has recently studied the UEFA Pro Licence course with the Football Association of Wales, alongside some big names. He worked alongside Davide Ancelotti, the assistant manager of Real Madrid, as well as former Crystal Palace midfielder Mile Jedinak.
He guided Pontypridd United to a second-placed finish but didn’t get the chance to manage them in the Cymru Premier. Jones agreed to mutually part ways and was replaced by Andrew Stokes, but now after recharging the batteries, is he ready for a return to the dugout?
Embed from Getty ImagesJamie Sherwood
Sherwood’s experience mainly comes from the Women’s game in England having been in charge of Yeovil Town when they were in the Women’s Super League. He has had brief experience of managing in the Welsh system and was manager of Taffs Well before.
His most recent job in senior-level football was in Canada Electric City, but they parted ways with him just a few games into the role. He’s back in Wales now and is the Head of Education at Newport County.
Lee Mansell
A bit of a left-field appointment this one, but why not? Barry have Ollie Hulbert and Lucas Tomlinson signed up for the season, and Mansell’s managed them at Gloucester City previously, which is where the pair have both played. Mansell’s base in South West England isn’t too far, and the Bristol Rovers penalty hero has been keeping tabs on their progress.
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