PRESTATYN Town have taken further steps to secure their long-term future with the appointments of Ryan Turner and Leon Field to their management team.

The ambitious duo have built a solid reputation within the North Wales football scene, and join the Seasiders after a memorable campaign at Kinmel Bay, where they secured the Vale of Clwyd and Conwy League Premier Division title that ensured promotion to the Lock Stock Welsh Alliance.

This represents a significant step up in class for the duo, who have a real job on their hands in forming a squad that is capable of challenging in the ultra-competitive Huws Gray Alliance.

This task has been made that much more difficult with the departure and retirement of a large number of key squad members, meaning Turner and Field are virtually starting from scratch, which could actually be a good thing in terms of managing expectations for the coming campaign.

While they do not have any experience of managing at second tier level, neither did Town legend Neil Gibson when he was appointed and subsequently guided the club to its most successful period in their rich and proud history.

Gibson’s achievements can serve as a great source of inspiration for the new management team as the side looks to emerge from the shadows of iconic club figures and stamp their own mark on the squad in what is sure to be an extremely busy few weeks and months for the duo.

The pair are under no illusions as to the task that lies ahead of them. The second tier is going to be even more ruthless than ever next term thanks to the introduction of Bangor City, with clubs such as Rhyl, Airbus Broughton and Flint Town United investing heavily in the hopes of securing an all-important promotion to the JD Welsh Premier League.

Club CEO Leigh Williams and director Tony O’Reilly have already stated the importance of consolidating their position of the next couple of seasons, which is the correct move after securing four new investors as the continue to look more at the long-term picture rather than go in search of an instant return to the top of the Welsh pyramid, which they are simply not ready for at the present time.

Field and Turner have good contacts who formed a fantastic togetherness within the Bay squad, something which was the cornerstone of their success and this will need to be replicated within the Seasiders’ dressing room if they are to replicate their achievements playing against higher quality opposition.

Their work off-the-pitch with chairman Bill Darwin also saw the reformed club become a valuable community asset, and this would no doubt have impressed the Town decision-makers as being an integral part of Prestatyn’s overall culture is something they are enormously proud of.

It remains to be seen just how many Bay players follow their managers to the Motion Finance Stadium, but any potential arrivals will also be making a huge leap in terms ability as many HGA teams now have squads more than capable of plying their trade in the top flight.

The Town board should be commended for giving an opportunity to a young management team who have big plans to not only develop the club across all areas, but also enhance their respective careers in what could be a mutually beneficial partnership for all concerned.

One thing is for certain, nobody would begrudge the Seasiders a little bit of good fortune given the summer they have had so far.