RHUDDLAN Town manager Wayne Hughes has stepped down from the role due to increasing work commitments.

The NWCFA Tier 4 (East) Premier Division side confirmed that club captain Keiran Evans will take over at the ambitious set-up in the wake of Hughes’ departure, with the departed boss staying on behind the scenes to help with their plans to progress in the coming years.

Hughes was one of many managers across the region finding himself disillusioned with the current state of affairs due to current COVID-19 restrictions, with the prospect of any competitive football below ‘elite athlete’ level this season appearing bleak.

He leaves Rhuddlan on a high having guided them to the Vale of Clwyd and Conwy League Premier Division title last time around, and Hughes is confident Evans can carry on his tremendous work when things return to some semblance of normality.

Hughes, said: “I’ve absolutely loved being the manager of Rhuddlan Town and made some great friends along the way.

“It’s something that has been on my mind for a while and I decided it was the right time with no football being played. When I started the club, my aim was to get us into the Welsh Alliance and in theory we won the league that would have taken us there, but the league system changed.

“I’m massively proud of what we have all achieved together as a club while I was the manager and would like to thank every single player who played for me.

“I’ll still be massively involved with the club helping our chairman move the club forward off the pitch. Keiran Evans is 100 per cent the best man for the job and I have no doubt he will be a successful manager.”

With Evans now stepping away from playing duties, he has confirmed the appointment of Liam Handy as his new skipper, with Josh Parry assuming the role of vice-captain.