FORMER Rhyl manager Niall McGuinness could not hide his delight after securing promotion with Flint Town United.

The talented young boss has transformed the fortunes of the club since taking over at the helm, turning them from relegation candidate to two-time JD Cymru North runners-up over the last two seasons.

McGuinness became the youngest manager in Europe when he took over at Belle Vue, but the Lilies’ were relegated under his tenor and he resigned from his position shortly after their Huws Gray Alliance campaign began.

His road to redemption with the Silkmen is now complete, and United will now return to the top of the Welsh domestic pyramid after Prestatyn Town could not secure a Tier 1 Domestic Licence on appeal.

Speaking to the Leader, McGuinness said: “I was 24 turning 25 when I got my first job, but then we got relegated and I resigned. When that happens there is criticism and I could have packed it in and gone back to youth team football.

“Flint Town United is a big football club with a great youth structure and passionate people looking to push the club in the right direction with the ultimate aim being to become a WPL team.

“It shows the type of character I am that I wanted to get back into another job quickly at Flint. When I first spoke to the chairman Darryl Williams I told him that I would give my all from the minute I started to the minute I finished.

“Being fully committed is massive, especially if you want to try and win promotion to the Cymru Premier. We were a long way off winning promotion when I first came, but it shows what can be achieved when a group of people with the same ambition work together.”

McGuinness hailed the contribution of everyone associated with the club to achieve their goal, and he has already made some bold moves in recent weeks to ensure they have a chance of following in the footsteps of Caernarfon Town in their rise to prominence.

“I’m made up for the chairman and all the hard-working volunteers, the fans and the players,” he added.

“We’ve only got four players who have been at the club for the whole time I’ve been here. Everyone who has played for the club deserves credit for their input, and I’m delighted for Aden (Shannon) and Johnny (Hill), who have been brilliant since I arrived.”