DAVE Hayes has given everyone associated with Prestatyn Town a monumental boost by coming out of retirement to return to the set-up for the new Huws Gray Alliance.

There is little trace of the squad that were relegated from the JD Welsh Premier League last term, with the club undergoing significant changes in playing personnel following the Hayes initially decided to call it a day and received a hero’s reception in his final home league outing, but Field and Turner have always been very persistent in trying to convince the legendary centre half to come back into the fold during a period of transition at the Seasiders.

The defender’s influence on the club for more than a decade cannot be underestimated, and his experience within a young, hungry squad is going to benefit Town considerably ahead of what is expected to be another hotly contested second tier campaign following the demotion of Bangor City and significant investment made by the likes of Rhyl, Airbus Broughton and Flint Town United.

There is little doubt that Hayes still has something to offer the game give the quality of his performances in the latter stages of the JD Welsh Premier League last term, and he is extremely determined both on-and-off the field which is going to be a massive motivator for the squad for the challenges that lie ahead.

This is a squad that is relatively inexperienced at this level, but the management duo now have an exceptional centre-half pairing in Hayes and Sam Kersh as a foundation to build upon, and there will not be many better defensive tandems in the entire league such is the talent they both possess.

Hayes is also an incredible motivator and plays with his heart on his sleeve, and this has the ability to inspire others and has also seen him emerge as a cult figure to the loyal Seasiders’ fanbase who worship the long-serving player.

He has seen and done it all in the game; won a Welsh Cup, Huws Gray Alliance, played and won in Europe and has also bounced back from long-term injuries and struggles on the field, which is a testament to his outstanding character and leadership abilities.

This can only be a good thing for the club to have in their ranks this season, and those that have already written Prestatyn Town off given the strength-in-depth within the HGA may be very surprised indeed when they begin their competitive fixtures on Saturday against the fancied Wingmakers.

Field and Turner also deserve an enormous amount of credit for putting together a squad and ambitions that convinced Hayes the club was worth returning to, and given the recent upheaval that could possibly be the most critical plus during their short reign so far.