Mike Hayes is the new No 9 at Caernarfon Town

Caernarfon Town have signed an instant replacement for striker Jamie Breese, who announced he was leaving the club earlier today.

Joining the Canaries is Mike Hayes, formerly of Bala Town, Connah’s Quay Nomads and Airbus.

The 32-year-old has spent the last six seasons at Bala, netting 35 Welsh Premier League goals for the Lakesiders and 44 in all competitions in making more than 150 club appearances.

He was the club’s top WPL marksman in 2016-17 and 2017-18, notching 15 and 9 goals respectively.

A product of the Chester City and Wrexham youth systems, Hayes joined Nomads at the start of the 2009/10 campaign after a spell at Heswall and top-scored for the Quay with seven goals from 16 (+17) Welsh Premier appearances.

He was the Huws Gray Alliance League’s leading hitman in the first half of season 2010/11 and had netted 18 goals in all competitions for Nomads before Bala signed him in January 2011.

After half a season with the Lakesiders, he was recruited by Airbus UK Broughton in June 2011 before returning to the Nomads on-loan until the end of 2012-13.

Hayes rejoined Nomads on a permanent basis ahead of the 2013-14 WPL campaign having scored nine goals in his 10 games on loan in 2013.

The Chester-born front man left Deeside Stadium in June 2014 to rejoin Bala.

In his multiple spells at Deeside, Hayes made 69 starts as well as 25 substitute appearances, netting 48 goals in the process.

Caernarfon manager Huw Griffiths said: “I’m really pleased to get Mike Hayes in as the new No 9 at the football club.

“I’ve been trying to sign him for several years; his games per goals ratio is excellent.

“He’s not started too many for Bala, hopefully we’ll give him the opportunity to get the goals I know he can and we can all get behind him.”

Hayes has scored 81 Welsh Premier League goals in total.