PENRHYNCOCH FC has been stunned by the shock resignation of manager
Stan Richards less than a year after taking charge of the defending
Spar Mid Wales League champions.

The former Penrhyn Reserves boss announced that he would not be
seeing out the season with the Cae Baker club after stepping down
after last weekend's league cup defeat.

Richards, who replaced manager Lenny Elwill at the start of the
season, said that he had not been getting the full support that he
had expected from certain sections of the club.

He added that he was disappointed to hear that the club had
approached another member of the club to take over the running of
the first team next season without consulting him.

Veteran player Tommy Morgan, the former Carmarthen and Wales semi-
professional manager, has been linked to the position alongside the
assistant boss Carwyn Jenkins.

Richards said: "I have resigned with immediate effect because I feel
I have not been getting the backing that I have deserved, it is
something that's been brewing since January.

"I found out that a certain person had been approached to manage the
club next season without consulting me and he was told that I was
not managing the team next year.

"I have not been asked by the committee but if they had questioned
me about next season I would not have said no, it is very
disappointing they did not ask what my plans were.

"I felt that I had done a good job in preparing a side for the Cymru
Alliance and not getting an opportunity to take things further has
affected my desire to carry on this season.

"When I started this season I did not think that we would be in a
position to win the league, but the team has surpassed my
expectations and I would like to wish them all the best.

"They're a good young squad and one of the best footballing sides in
the area. I have thoroughly enjoyed my experience as the manager and
it has been a tough decision to quit.

"I feel that I have done what has been asked of me but I can't
continue knowing what has been going on behind my back. The chairman
asked me to change my mind but there's no going back on my
decision."

Richards added that a dispute over payments for phone calls incurred
during the course of the season had also showed a lack of faith in
him but stressed that other sections of the club had backed him.

He commented: "The majority of the club has been excellent but I
will stand by my position, I would like to stay with the club, and
maybe continue playing, but I've resigned as first team manager."

Meanwhile club officials have expressed their disappointment that
Richards has chosen to vacate the post before the end of the season,
with just seven matches to go.

Despite being knocked out of both the Spar Mid Wales League Cup and
Central Wales Cup competitions, Penrhyn remain in a strong position
to retain the league title.

General manager Richie Jenkins commented: "Obviously it is a shame
that he has gone with so little of the season remaining, the club
would have liked to have seen him finish the rest of the season.

"He has not given any reason to me but he had the full support of
the club and committee. He had however indicated earlier this year
that he did not want the job next season due to family commitments.

"Apparently he was re-thinking whether he would stay as the manager
but, at the end of the day, when there is someone like Tommy Morgan
at the club, there will always be some speculation.

"We are hoping that Tommy will help Carwyn with the running of the
team until the end of the season but it is quite impossible to
speculate who will be the first team manager of Penrhyncoch next
year at this stage in the season."

Copyright Tindle Newspapers Ltd 31 March 04