CONWY Borough FC will begin pre-season with the aim to gel its squad and consolidate its position in the second tier of Welsh football.

The Tangerines have spent three seasons in the JD Cymru North League and want to become a regular fixture in the highly competitive division over the coming years.

It will not be an easy task with top sides including Llandudno FC and Colwyn Bay FC vying for points, but chairman Chris Wilton believes the club has what it takes under manager Matthew Jones.

“We are in an odd situation because after the season was curtailed in March 2020 and we have had only one competitive fixture since.

“The manager has assembled players who have never really had the opportunity to play together so it will be a case of getting a rigorous pre-season schedule in place and consolidating the squad so that we can hit the ground running as and when we restart.

“The focus will be on getting them to gel as a group and to rebuild their fitness as they have not been playing with any consistency.”

Colwyn Bay FC could begin 11-a-side pre-season friendlies after April 26 as the rule of 30 is expected to be reintroduced by the Welsh Government, with competitive football due to return with the Welsh Cup over the summer. In the meantime, the Y Morfa Stadium club is completing its application for FAW Tier 2 Club Licensing ahead of the deadline on April 30, which is expected to go without a hitch.

One challenge for the club this season will be to develop its youth teams after merging in 2019, which saw junior club chairman Chris Hammond join the board of directors.

“We want to continue to develop relations with junior section and create a strong youth and reserve set up, rather than recruiting from outside the area,” said Mr Wilton. “We want to ensure that young, local players are getting the opportunity to progress.

“Having a good relation with the junior section helps the first team, and we will redouble our efforts to reach out to communities around the Y Morfa Stadium.”