NEWI Cefn Druids’ joint player-manager Lee Jones has been forced to retire after a glittering playing career.
The 35-year-old twice- capped Wales international, who runs the Plaskynaston Lane outfit with former Wrexham team- mate Waynne Phillips, suffered a recurrence of the knee injury he first sustained in March in last Tuesday’s 3-2 Loosemores Challenge Cup home win over Caernarfon Town.
Jones said: “It’s the same pain in the same area and there must have been something more sinister to it than originally thought.
“I now have to hang up my boots. It comes to us all, but I would rather have been able to decide myself than have it forced on me.”
Jones’ career began at the Racecourse before Liverpool paid £300,000 for the striker’s services when he was 18.
Two broken legs restricted him to just four appearances at the Anfield giants, but he went on to score goals for Crewe Alexandra, Wrexham again, Tranmere Rovers and Barnsley in the Football League and then Caernarfon and his present club in the Welsh Premier League.
Druids’ four-match winning run in all competitions came to an end on Saturday as they went down 1-0 at home to sixth-placed Haverfordwest County.
Druids, whose victory over Caernarfon ensured their qualification to the quarter-finals of the Loosemores Challenge Cup, make the trip to second- from-bottom Neath on Saturday (2.30pm)
Lex XI suffered their first defeat of the Cymru Alliance season on Saturday as they were edged out 4-3 at Mynydd Isa.
Mike Latham, Craig Hughes and Simon Smith had put Lex a goal to the good at the break.
Gresford Athletic slipped to the bottom after a late strike condemned them to a 1-0 loss to Llanfairpwll.
Gresford host Denbigh on Saturday while Lex entertain Ruthin (both 2.30pm).
