Major investment for Cefn Druids FC will push them up among the ‘big boys’

Cefn Druids, one of the oldest football clubs in Wales, has secured major financial investment.

Two local sponsors have joined forces to show their passion for the 147-year-old club.

And that means The Ancients are on the verge of joining the big guns at the top of the Cymru Premier League.

Playing in the top flight of Welsh domestic football is not cheap and with player salaries increasing, small clubs like Druids are finding it harder to sustain a competitive edge.

The less affluent clubs with low attendances are struggling to compete with the bigger clubs that have wealthy backers and attract huge sponsorship deals.

A source close to the Druids deal said: “It has been a fraught few weeks inside the club with no one knowing exactly what’s going on, but from what we now know, the volunteers and staff are really excited that the sponsors and investors are now starting to restore this magnificent football club to its rightful position, securing its future for the fans, the loyal club staff, and the players.”

The sponsors, Global Travel Worldwide in Wrexham and Complete Sports Solutions in Chester, have combined their financial resources with the sole aim of taking the club into European competition on a yearly basis, developing players from the academy to play at the highest level and restoring the great Druids name and tradition in welsh football.

Spearheading the changes are two local businessmen Jamie Digwood and Des Williams, both have a sporting background and the expertise to develop the club.

Druids manager Huw Griffiths is taking on a full time role as the club’s sporting director and will oversee the growth of the club on the field. Assistant boss and academy director Jayson Starkey will also go full time, combining his role with the academy with the position of commercial manager.

Druids chairman John Hughes will also oversee the scouting and recruitment network across the UK and implement a system similar to that found at most of the top English Premier League clubs.

There are plans to build a new fitness centre and a hotel at the ground as well as increasing the capacity of the current stand to meet UEFA Europa League regulations.

The Druids are also looking to strengthen their links to local community football clubs via player loans, sponsorship and community fundraising.

Internally, there will be changes but the new Board and the investors aren’t giving anything away. There’s more to come on this exciting development for the oldest club in Wales.