DENBIGH Town boss Eddie Maurice-Jones has emerged as a leading candidate for the vacant managerial position at Rhyl.

The Journal understands that the Lilywhites have identified Maurice-Jones as the man to take the club forward after the recent departures of manager Matthew Jones and Director of Football Mark Connolly.

The young boss is reported to have been offered the job officially, although no decision has yet been made in terms of his future.

Any advances are expected to be met with heavy resistance from the Central Park outfit, who achieved their highest league finish in their history after coming second to champions Caernarfon Town in the Huws Gray Alliance under the stewardship of Maurice-Jones and assistant Richard Williams-Cooke.

If Maurice-Jones were to depart Denbigh, it would represent a significant blow to the ambitious plans for Town, who have progressed significantly in recent years thanks to the investment made by chairman Shon Powell.

The vacant position of Director of Football is set to be filled by Dave Norman, who has close ties with Rhyl chairman Paul Higginson and has big shoes to fill, with Connolly highly respected within the dressing room and throughout the North Wales region.

No formal announcement has been made by the Lilies in terms of the departures or subsequent replacements to date, although news is expected to be revealed in the coming days.