Cefn Albion part ways with manager Neil Ashton

Cefn Albion Football Club have parted ways with first team manager Neil Ashton.

This decision follows a disappointing 4-1 defeat at Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant in the Tier 3 Ardal North East League earlier today.

The result leaves Albion in fifth place, eight points off the lead but with three games in hand on table-toppers Penrhyncoch.

Albion have struggled of late, losing 7-1 at Bangor 1876 in the Welsh Cup last month before scraping past Tier 4 side Trearddur Bay 5-4 in the FAW Amateur Trophy two weeks later.

Ashton, 38, took over as Albion manager in June 2023.

Before that, the B Licence holder was in charge of Cefn Druids.

It was his first managerial post after an impressive playing career which saw him begin at Tranmere Rovers before representing Shrewsbury Town, Macclesfield, Chester City and Wrexham, where he won the FA Trophy in 2013.

Ashton was released by Wrexham on in May 2015, having made 222 appearances in all competitions for the club, scoring 15 goals.

Stints with Barrow and Southport followed before in July 2017, the Merseysider signed for Cefn Druids of the Welsh Premier.

He left Druids in 2020, having turned out for the club in the Europa League, to join Llandudno.

Ashton returned to Druids as manager in April 2022. He was in charge for the 2022-23 season, but in summer of this year the club withdrew from competitive football and Ashton soon moved on to Cefn Albion.