RHUDDLAN Town manager Wayne Hughes is calling for the Football Association of Wales and Welsh Government to relax measures regarding playing friendlies ahead of the new season.

The popular figure guided his side to the Vale of Clwyd and Conwy League Premier Division title last term, but the governing body has yet to clarify when things outside of the JD Cymru Premier can resume due to the coronavirus pandemic.

This I a situation that has yet to get the green light from the Welsh Government. The FAW have offered little in the way of information surrounding the potential start of the season, which Hughes feels could “kills the grassroots game” across the country.

He said: “When will we be allowed to play games in Wales?

“All of the other things are being made available, even those that take place indoors. But yet we are not permitted to play friendly matches or get some plans for the new season in an outdoor setting, it is really strange.

“It is killing the grassroots game in Wales. More and more lads are starting to take on weekend work in the absence of anything more than training session and losing interest. This is a disaster for teams like us and this cannot go on for much longer.”

Town will be taking their place in the new NWCFA Tier 4 (East) Premier Division next season after successfully securing promotion from a memorable title-winning campaign last time out.

They will be without the services of influential duo Jay Whitehouse and Mathew Beach following their moves to CPD Y Rhyl 1879, but Hughes still has a squad that is more than capable of being competitive against higher league opposition.