NEW manager Paul Whelan faces the challenge of establishing Porthmadog as a credible force as their campaign season starts at Carmarthen Town today.
Bangor-based Whelan gets his first chance to work in the top flight, after considerable success in the Cymru Alliance with Glantraeth for five seasons and Cemaes Bay for four.
Whelan said: “We are looking forward to the challenge but know the going will be hard and, although we have signed around 18 players, we need another three or four.
“Signings have to be completed by the end of August, which puts us under a bit of pressure to get everything wrapped up properly.”
Chris Jones has signed from Llangefni Town, John Rowley from Caernarfon Town, Richard F Owen and Jonathan Peris Jones from Glantraeth and Ben Ogilvey from Bangor City.
Former Llangefni midfielder Steve Kehoe is out with a knee injury, while forward Marcus Orlik is out for six weeks with a broken foot.
Ten newcomers will crowd into Caernarfon Town’s dressing room for today’s opening fixture at Caersws.
A new management structure is in place at The Oval, comprising Merseyside-based threesome of manager David Rowe, director of football Aubrey Rogers and player-coach Peter Smith.
Rowe, a coach at Liverpool’s academy, said: “When we were appointed in mid-summer, we looked around for players and found a great deal of talent, from leading clubs on Merseyside, as well as the Liverpool academy.
“At this stage, we do not know our best squad, let alone our best team, and that is something to concentrate on during the first few weeks of the season.”
Caersws boss Dave Taylor, who will be hoping his new-look side can avoid the relegation struggles of last term, faces a goalkeeping choice over Andy Mulliner and newcomer Jon Rowley, writes John Bridgwater.
Meanwhile, The New Saints launch their bid to regain the Welsh Premier crown when they host Port Talbot today.
Former Wrexham striker Alex Darlington will make his debut, while midfielder John Leah has recovered from a gashed leg.
