LAST SEASON’S Cymru Alliance champions will be desperate to hold on to their place in the Welsh Premier next season.

After the Seasiders took the feeder league by storm, their place in the top flight looked in doubt for a long time as a drawn-out wrangle over floodlights at their Bastion Road ground threatened their promotion hopes.

But having met the Welsh Premier’s ground criteria, Prestatyn are looking to avoid the fate which befell Llangefni Town last season when the league’s new boys dropped straight back down.

Manager Neil Gibson says: “First and foremost, with this season being our first in the league, it would be an achievement to keep our place in the league.

“We want to avoid relegation and hopefully finish as high as we can, and get ourselves safe as soon as possible.”

However, Gibson reckons his side will spring a few surprises this season.

“It’s a new thing for us as a football club and it’s a new thing for a lot of the players,” he adds. “But we’re very optimistic about our chances and we’re by no means worried about it.

“We think we’ve got a very strong squad at Prestatyn so we’re ready for the challenge – it can’t come soon enough for a lot of the lads.”

KEY PLAYERS: All eyes will be on prolific marksman Steve Bowes, who scored an astonishing 80 goals in two seasons in the Cymru Alliance.

However, Gibson says Prestatyn have quality throughout the side.

“If Jon Hill-Dunt recaptures the form of last season, when he was excellent for us, he’ll be vital, while Michael Parker and Jon Fisher-Cooke are big players for us and will play a big part in our season.”

TITLE PREDICTION: Gibson says: “I can’t see much past our neighbours, Rhyl. They’ve made some excellent signings and pushed the boat out and some of the players they’ve brought in are exceptional. They’re going to be the team to beat this season.”