After months of intense speculation, Bow Street Football Club has announced that Emyr Jones will be their new manager from next season. Bow Street, who have just enjoyed the most successful season in their short history in the Spar Mid Wales League, were searching for new management following the decision of Huw Bates to stand down after five memorable years.
Emyr ‘Brains’ Jones comes to Bow Street with an impressive managerial CV. He has successfully managed Aberystwyth Reserves for the last six years, where he led the Welsh Premier club’s second string to numerous trophies. He has earned himself a reputation as an excellent coach of younger players, and many of those that have come under his tutorship have gone on to play at the highest level. During his playing days, he spent a few seasons at Cae Piod, and was part of the Emrys Morgan cup winning side in 1983.
Club chairman Wyn Lewis stated, ‘We have been very fortunate in getting a new manager of the quality of Emyr to replace Huw, who has achieved so much in the last five seasons. Emyr’s track record speaks for itself, and we feel that this is the ideal time for someone of his experience to build upon and develop the team that has done so well in its first three seasons in the Spar League.’
Jones added, ‘This is a fantastic challenge for me to build on the excellent foundations that Huw Bates has established at Cae Piod. I am excited at the prospect of working with a squad of players who have proved themselves one of the best in this league over the last three years.’
‘I am thrilled at the prospect of managing Bow Street, a club that I have admired over the years, and also have fond memories of my time as a player at Cae Piod.’
Retiring manager, Huw Bates said ‘“I am absolutely delighted to hear that Emyr has accepted the role of Bow Street manager. After five years in the job it was really important to me that we found someone who could take us to a whole new level and I think Emyr’s track-record speaks for itself.”.
“Although I’m still disappointed that I couldn’t bring some senior silverware to the club in my final season, I am still monumentally proud that we have achieved Bow Street’s highest ever finish in its long and prestigious history. However, I fully recognise the fact that in order to keep us moving in the right direction we need a fresh face with fresh ideas at the Club and after today’s appointment I am incredibly excited about Bow Street ’s immediate future.”.
“As for me, I am looking forward to my first summer in five years that won’t involve chasing players and arranging pre-season friendlies! I hope to have a few games for the reserves next season and will be on hand to give Brains as much (or as little!) support as he needs.”.
“I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to everyone who has supported me over the past five years, especially my family, my fiancé Nia, Wyn Lewis and everyone connected with Bow Street . It has been an honour and a pleasure to be the Club’s manager and I look forward to exploring other roles within the Club next season’
Another important development for the 2010/2011 season is that Bow Street will be establishing an under 17’s team to play in the Aberystwyth and District Junior League.
Bow Street Manager announces his resignation
Bow Street first team manager Huw Bates has announced that he will be stepping down at the end of the current season after five years at the helm. Bates, has cited work commitments and the need to “recharge the batteries” as his main reasons for his decision, but is keen to stress that he hopes to return to management at some point in the future.
Speaking to Cambrian News Sports Editor Adam Hughes Bates said “It has been an incredible honour to be Bow Street manager for the past five seasons and I am very proud of what the club has achieved during my time in the hot-seat but it involves an incredible amount of time and commitment and I could just do with a break.”. Bates added: “I still thoroughly enjoy the job and as a result this has probably been the hardest decision of my life but I think the time is right to get a fresh face involved in order to maintain the club’s momentum. I would definitely be interested in returning to the role in a few year’s time but in the meantime I will be putting my efforts into other aspects of the club’s affairs whilst giving the new manager as much support as he (or she) needs.”. Bates was keen to praise some of his supporters over the past five campaigns: “I will do most of my thank yous at the end of season dinner but I must give a special mention to Gerwyn Evans, who was my assistant for four seasons and my Chairman Wyn Lewis, whose support has been unwavering over the past five years.”
Lewis was keen to reciprocate the compliment: “It might seem strange to announce the impending departure of a manger, as the team lies at the top of the league, but we fully understand and respect Huw’s decision to stand down at the end of the season. I would have loved to have seen him stay on for another season at least, but am appreciative that he wants to take a break after five intense and totally committed seasons.”
Lewis added: “His tenure has been a remarkable period for Bow Street. The first season yielded the highly prestigious Emrys Morgan Cup and the Cwpan Ceredigion, and the second season saw us become champions of the District League. Bow Street had enjoyed much success at local level over the years, and it was after that league success in 2007, that the club decided to take a major decision and be promoted to the Spar Mid Wales League. With a progressive and vibrant committee behind him, Huw was the ideal man to lead us in to the new league. We finished fifth in the first season and were runners-up in the league cup, finished comfortably in mid table last season, and at this moment in time, we are top of the league, and in the semi finals of the league cup.”
Lewis went on to say “There have been many memorable times over the years, none more so than Huw arranging for the team to arrive at an away game in Llanrhaeadr by helicopter. He has brought many qualities to the post such as a professional outlook, an ethos of hard work, efficiency and great organizational skills, and he has commanded huge respect and loyalty from all around him. He will continue to serve the club in many different ways over the coming seasons – it is always handy to have a solicitor on the committee!! I am also absolutely sure that one day, (probably not too far away!) we will see Huw re-enter the role of manager at this club.”
Lewis added that the Club will immediately start the search for Bates’ successor: “The show must go on and we will be taking immediate steps to look for a new manger for the season 2010/2011. I am sure that there will be suitable candidates, both within and outside the club. Anyone interested in the post of Bow Street first team manager, should forward their CV’s to me at the address below, or contact me by telephone or email.
