North leads the way in transfer market
Wednesday 03 February 2010
Greg StrongSOUTH Wales clubs were surprisingly inactive, with north and mid Wales leading the way in deals before the January transfer window slammed shut.
With the exception of Haverfordwest County boss Derek Brazil, who rang considerable changes at the New Bridge Meadow, the remaining south Wales outfits seem happy with their squads.
Port Talbot manager Mark Jones tried to sign Welshpool's Peter Doran, who elected to join Altrincham, but made no other public moves in the market.
At Stebonheath Park, Llanelli chief Andy Legg made no additions, while Carmarthen player-manager Deryn Brace brought-in just defenders Dale Griffiths from Merthyr Tydfil and Sean Cronin on loan from Neath, after the departure of Mark Dodds, who was one of six new signings for Bluebirds' boss Brazil.
The County chief also secured the return of Lee Hudgell, Chris O'Sullivan and Tom Ramasut, while signing striker Tom Billing and midfielder Josh Hartrick.
Rhyl manager Greg Strong's mobile was the hottest during a cash crisis at Belle Vue, but the Lilywhites' chief ended the month by losing five players and signing eight!
Greg Stones (Colwyn Bay), Lee Hunt (Bangor City) and George Horan departed, but the Lillies were able to hang on to key trio John Leah, Matty Williams and Mark Connolly.
Just down the road, Prestatyn were one of only three clubs to make no new signings during the window.
Most high profile of the January moves were Neath's capture of Kevin Cooper and the loan signing of Grimsby striker Chris Jones, the moves of strikers Chris Sharp from Bangor to TNS and Lee Hunt from Rhyl to Farrar Road, and Bala's acquisition of Danny Williams.
Newtown boss Darren Ryan was the unluckiest, missing-out on several key targets including John Leah and Merthyr defender Lee Hartshorn, and having new signing Richie Harris stretchered-off six minutes into his debut.
ABERYSTWYTH IN Tom Shaw, Conall Murtagh (loan) Ryan Fraughan (loan) OUT Kristian James, Adam James, Andy Evans, Dave Roberts (loan), Rob Evans (loan).
AIRBUS UK IN Tom Rowlands, Jack Rowlands, Josh Johnson, Jamie Smith OUT Phil Palethorpe
BALA TOWN IN Gwydion Ifan, Mike Thompson, Danny Williams, Paul Ennis, Steve Morrison OUT Marc Griffiths, Joe Kennedy, Peter Moore
BANGOR CITY IN Eddie Jebb, Lee Hunt, Nicky Ward, Matty Hurdman OUT Kieran Killackey, Chris Sharp
CAERSWS FC IN Phil Jones, Steve Rowlands OUT Dave Hughes, Matthew Roberts
CARMARTHEN TOWN IN Dale Griffiths, Sean Cronin (loan) OUT Mark Dodds
ELEMENTS CEFN DRUIDS IN Gareth Caughter, Craig Pejic, Jamie Crowther, Tony Filson, Aled Evans OUT Gary Penlington, Adam Hunter, Tom Rowlands, Andrew Edgar, Lee T Jones
GAP CONNAH'S QUAY IN Aaron Burns, Gerard Mullen, Danny Pinch, Gary Pinch, Robert Jones OUT None
HAVERFORDWEST COUNTY IN Tom Billing, Mark Dodds, Lee Hudgell, Chris O'Sullivan, Tom Ramasut, Josh Hartrick, Ross Jones (loan) OUT Bobby Briers, Paul Michael, Jarrod Price, Damon Searle, Robbie Walters
LLANELLI AFC IN None OUT Ross Jones (loan)
NEATH FC IN Kevin Cooper, Chris Jones (loan) Kristian James OUT Sean Cronin (loan), Matthew Harris (loan), Stephen Davey (loan)
NEWTOWN AFC IN Richie Harris, Paul Roberts, Dave Roberts (loan), James Russell, Andrew Webb OUT Nicky Ward, Matty Lewis, Dave Maguire
PORT TALBOT TOWN IN None OUT Andy Boslem
PORTHMADOG FC IN Marcus Orlik, Andy Evans, Huw Owens, Sion Meredith, Carl Threadgill, Rob Evans (loan) OUT Mike Thompson, Paul Roberts, Marc Evans
PRESTATYN TOWN IN None OUT Matthew Towns
RHYL FC IN Jack Cudworth, Joe Dixon, Ron Turner, Andrew Pearson, Andy Owens, Russell Courtney, Lee Ebden, Phil Ojapah (loan) OUT Greg Stones, Lee Hunt, Paul Smith, George Horan, Luke Holden
TECHNOGROUP WELSHPOOL IN Marc Griffiths, Danny Jones, David Maguire OUT Richard Harris, Jack Cudworth, Tim Edwards, Peter Doran
TNS IN Chris Sharp OUT Conall Murtagh (loan), Sean Jones (loan)
Photo: Rhyl's Greg Strong was the busiest manager [Trinity Mirror North Wales].