Welsh Women’s League preview

CALDICOT Town LFC manager Luke Harris must wait to kick off this season’s campaign after attracting a number of new players - from England and Slovakia.

“We are waiting for international clearances, which can take up to 30 days, for a number of new signings,” Harris said.

The manager has recruited the players in a bid to bounce straight back to the Welsh Premier League following relegation at the end of last season.

“We needed a stronger squad good enough to get us back to the Premier League - and stay there," he said.

"We should be favourites to go back up,” he added.

Last season Town were hit with a hefty nine-point deduction after a league official noticed one of Town’s players hadn’t been registered.

If the error had been discovered immediately, the club would have lost three points but because it went unnoticed for three games, a nine-point deduction was imposed which left Town with a negative points total to make up.

"We don’t want to be in that sort of situation again so we need - and have - a stronger squad to the one we had last season," said Harris.

"Kelly Cutler, Leanne Rogers, Carly Bray, Abbie Rose and Kristina Jasicova, who is Slovakian - have all joined us but under UEFA rules, they must wait for international clearance before playing for us."

That has meant their scheduled first match at home to Splott Albion this Sunday (2nd September) has been postponed.

Harris claims Town’s main rivals for the WWL title this season - and promotion to the Welsh Premier League - are  Aberystwyth Town, Barry Town United and Cascade YC.

As long as they get the go-ahead, Town should kick off the campaign at Dafen Welfare on Sunday 9th September.

Bob Cypher