Prestatyn Town make new signings and promise more professional approach after video ‘fiasco’

Prestatyn Town hope four new signings can benefit the club’s quest to escape from the Cymru North relegation zone.

And the Seasiders are promising a more professional approach after a pre-match video shown on social media last weekend led to widespread ridicule of the club.

The Seasiders slipped to fourth from bottom last weekend after a 1-0 home defeat to Penrhyncoch.

Prestatyn have lost four league matches on the bounce and face a real six-pointer this Saturday when they host fellow strugglers Llangefni Town, who are one place above the basement.

Town won 6-0 at Llangefni back in October, but Saturday’s battle could be much closer.

Prestatyn’s management team of John ‘Barney’ Barnes and Andrew Ruscoe brought in four new faces before the January transfer window closed.

They are:

John Roberts

Formerly with Brickfield Rangers, Rhostyllen and Rhydymwyn in the old Cymru Alliance.
Has a keen eye for goal and possesses great feet. Striker Roberts can also play midfield or right back.

Mussab Benaly

A former Marine Under-23 player, Mussab lands at Bastion Gardens after an impressive stint training with Ruthin Town.

Ruthin were keen on keeping the midfielder, but could not guarantee him the game time he wanted.

Prestatyn are offering him more prospect of getting minutes on the clock.

Benaly has amazing feet, lightening speed when turning on the ball and is very confident. One to watch once he gets started.

Shaun Gillespie

One of the Prestatyn Town originals who left the club on a deadline day swap for James Sweetman from Rhyl Dragons.

Gillespie is passionate about Prestatyn and very versatile. He has a very positive outlook and is really excited on returning to the club he loves.

Ahmed Ibrahim

Ahmed joins the club from Ashton Town.

A player who can play anywhere in the back four, he has good height and a desire to win every loose ball possible.

Wants to join Prestatyn to make a fresh start in a career which has seen him play for clubs such as Macclesfield Town, Tranmere Rovers and Marine.

Ruscoe will stay on

Meanwhile, joint-manager Ruscoe has agreed to stay with the club until the end of the season.

The former Cefn Druids, Rhydymwyn and Brickfield Rangers goalkeeper suggested the Penrhyncoch game could have been his last, but he has now had a change of mind.

He said: “My partner Morgan actually gave me the go ahead to do it. I love the club, I haven’t had this love for a club since I was at Bricky. I love the lads to bits, I love working with Barney, the volunteers are amazing and I love the supporters too.”

The club attracted some mickey-taking on social media last weekend after putting out a video of the players singing a well-known country and western song before taking on Penrhyncoch.

Some critics felt the seriousness of Prestatyn’s situation on and off the field called for a more professional, serious approach, rather than treating a game which was crucial in a supposed light-hearted manner.

Ruscoe admitted: “Let’s face it, Saturday’s Country Road video fiasco has got everyone talking about Prestatyn, but now it’s time to get people talking about the club for the playing aspect.

“It’s now time to get things more serious, focused by getting the lads playing the right way so that we can pick up points to keep Prestatyn Town in tier 2 of Welsh football.”