Powell eager to get going at Aberystwyth
Domestic
21 July 2017

Powell eager to get going at Aberystwyth

Few managers in the history of the Welsh Premier League have a CV that can be compared with Neville Powell. 

A winner of every major domestic trophy, and two-time Welsh Premier League Manager of the Year, Powell is regarded as one of the league’s managerial powerhouses.

Aberystwyth Town announced his appointment as their new manager recently, and the 53-year-old boss was equally delighted to be working with the Ceredigion club.

Powell told FAW.Cymru: “I’ve been out of the game for eight or nine months now since I finished at Bangor City. I’ve only ever had three clubs in my career, and that’s Tranmere Rovers, Connah’s Quay and Bangor, so I’ve always thought that whichever one I go to next must be the right one, and Aberystwyth certainly fit that bill.

“Aberystwyth are a bit of a sleeping giant, like Bangor were when I went there, and they should be doing better than what they have been doing. They’ve got a cracking board there, a good fanbase, I just think it is the right opportunity for me to go there at the right time in my career, and I definitely look forward to the challenge. Hopefully I can do well for them.”

Although Powell has taken a break from the Welsh Premier League touchline, the Flintshire man has still been heavily involved in throughout that time, keeping a keen eye on events.

After his spell away from the spotlight though, the manager admits that he’s been itching to get back to work in the Welsh Premier League.

“I’ve kept a keen eye on the Welsh Premier League over the last few months, watched plenty of games and Sgorio is on every week so you can easily keep close contact with the league.

“When you’ve done football all your life it is hard to get away from it, but I’ve been itching to get back into the thick of things for a while now, working with top players, and I’m just thankful to this great club for giving me the opportunity to do that.”

Powell gave a glowing appraisal of the league’s development since he stepped away from the Bangor University Stadium dugout last season, reflecting on what was a very competitive season from start to finish, whilst adding that he thinks this season is going to be even tougher still for all 12 teams in the league.

“Every club has got so much stronger. Technically, tactically, the players who have come into the league are much better than what has been there in previous years, and last year was just a great season all-round for the league.

“It was exciting from start to finish, I know The New Saints had the league wrapped up pretty early, but from second to twelfth they could all beat each other on any given day, and that made for some brilliant matches last year throughout the season.

“I’ve got a job on my hands here after the club finished just above the relegation zone last year, but I will bring some fresh faces in to lift the place and, regardless of that, last season is history now and we don’t look behind us. We should only be focussed on the future and getting Aberystwyth Town Football Club back to where they belong, and that’s in the top six.”

You can watch Neville Powell’s first game back in a Welsh Premier League dugout live on S4C’s Sgorio on Sunday, 13 August, as his Seasiders travel to Jenner Park to take on Gavin Chesterfield’s newly promoted Barry Town United.