Rhyl Ladies FC’s Development side will become main focus for season ahead

Rhyl Ladies’ main team for the 2019-20 season will be the Development side which competes in the North Wales Women’s Football League, the club has announced.

Earlier today, the Lilywhites revealed they have withdrawn their first team from the Orchard Welsh Premier Women’s League, which they had been members of for the past five seasons.

In a statement, Rhyl Ladies FC said: “The difficult decision has been made based on the difficulties to retain and recruit players to compete at a national level.

“A number of the squad from the previous season have left the club due to changing personal circumstances linked to work and education and over the summer, despite a heavy recruitment drive, the team has been left in a position where it will be unable to compete at the national level competitively.”

Rhyl Ladies director of football, Tom Jamieson, added: “Following the departure of a number of key players over the summer myself and (manager) Cassandra Thomas have spoken to nearly 40 players across North Wales and the North West to seek the right signings for the club.

“For many there was a reluctance to commit to a national league and we have been unable to secure the players to compete at this level.

“After all the hard work to progress this team from regional football to the Welsh Premier League it’s very much with regret that we need to take this decision and this has been taken early to ensure that the WPWL can consider the implications of this in advance of the start of the season in September.”

In terms of the future, Jamieson said: “The focus on the team will now be on consolidation – the Rhyl Ladies Development Team will become the main side and compete at a North Wales regional level whilst the club rebuilds with a clear emphasis on player pathway development via the rejuvenated Rhyl Girls set up.

“Whilst this is a sad moment for the club, we hope this period will ensure that the club rebuilds and emerges stronger.”