EXCLUSIVE

By Tivy-Side sports reporter

THE way football is run in Ceredigion leaves much to be desired and administrators should take a long hard look at themselves according to Seamus Doherty the most successful manager in the long history of Cardigan Town FC who hit out after announcing his resignation from the post.

A former player with the club Doherty, nicknamed ‘The Doc’ guided the Magpies to unprecedented heights last season when capturing the J Emrys Morgan, Cwpan Coffa Dai Dynamo, League Cup, Bay Cup and league championship trophies.

Town also reached the last eight of the Central Wales Cup where they turned in a creditable performance in Powys against Llanidloes Town of the Cymru Alliance.

This term they have retained the league title and Cwpan Dai.

After Town withdrew from the Bay Cup building contractor Doherty decided to step down due to work commitments.

He explained that withdrawing from the Bay Cup – the final is this Friday – was due to players having taken part in three games a week since the start of April and what could have been another four games in just over a week was a bridge too far.

The normally affable 42-year-old former supremo was in no mood to mince his words at the weekend when hitting out at the way the game is run locally.

“The league hierarchy are more concerned about money than anything else. They are quick to fine clubs and the way they run things is far from satisfactory.

“Clubs who reach any of the various cup finals have to supply balls and the management is concerned only with gate money and does not lay on any after-match function for the teams.

He pointed out that most finals were played at Ffostrasol, which he described as one of the poorest in the league, and administrators were not listening to arguments about other options.

“When Pembrokeshire League champions Goodwick United got to the West Wales Cup Final recently the game was at the Liberty Stadium in Swansea – a bit different from Ffostrasol."

He added: “I can’t prove anything at the moment but I have been reliably informed that some clubs are looking at the possibility of leaving the Costcutter League to play elsewhere,” said the former manager.

“I’ve enjoyed my stint in charge of Cardigan and have had great support from the players, especially skipper Steve Blackford, the best signing I made. He has been great and I would also like to thank main sponsor Robert Davies Motors and John Williams of the Red Lion Inn which is our headquarters,” he said.

Told about Doherty’s outburst Geraint Davies, who has been Costcutter League secretary for 36 years, said: “I have no comment to make whatsoever except to say that anything concerning the league could be discussed at the next management meeting at Ffostrasol on June 7.”