LATEST: Steve Evans departs as Colwyn Bay manager

Colwyn Bay Football Club have today parted company with first team manager Steve Evans.

Bay were relegated from the Cymru Premier League this afternoon after just a single season in the top flight despite winning their final game 1-0 at home to Barry Town United.

Aberystwyth Town guaranteed their survival with a 3-0 win over Pontypridd United, in the process sending the Seagulls down.

In a statement, the club said: “This has been a very difficult decision, and not one that the Board have taken lightly.

“There can never be a good time to part ways with a club but after lengthy deliberation and consideration it was decided a change is needed.

“On behalf of everyone at the club, we would like to thank Steve for his work as first team manager and wish him every success in the future.

“The club will be making no further comment until such time as a new first team manager is appointed.”

Evans took over as Bay manager from Craig Hogg in January 2022.

Last season, the former Wrexham and Wales defender led the Seagulls to the Cymru North title and promotion to the Cymru Premier for the first time. They also scooped the Welsh Blood Service Northern League Cup.

Despite some promising results and performances over the season, Bay did not get enough points to stay up and will return instantly to Tier 2.

Evans, 44, joined the Bay after reviving his playing career at Cymru Premier outfit Caernarfon Town earlier in the 2021-22 season.

One of the finest defenders ever to appear in the Welsh top-flight, in two stints with The New Saints he played in 216 league matches, scoring 37 goals, and won numerous medals.

He was inducted into the Cymru Premier Hall of Fame in 2013.

Evans began his career with Crewe Alexandra and West Bromwich Albion. He first joined Cymru Premier side TNS in the summer of 1999 and featured in the title-winning team of 1999-2000.

Following an injury he moved to Oswestry Town to make six appearances before returning to TNS and playing in the championship-lifting sides of 2005 and 2006.

He won the Welsh Premier player of the season award for 2004-2005 and made nine appearances for the Welsh semi-professional side.

In June 2006, the big centre-back was picked up by Wrexham, then still in the Football League, where he signed a two-year deal.

He impressed Wales manager John Toshack and made his international debut in a friendly against Liechtenstein in November 2006.

In September 2008, with Wrexham relegated to the Football Conference, Evans became the first non-league player to represent Wales for 76 years as a second-half substitute in a 2–1 defeat away to Russia in a World Cup qualifier.

Returning to TNS from Wrexham – where he made 87 competitive appearances – in 2009, Steve held the position of club captain and won two further WPL titles.

In 2014-15, he had a spell on loan at Connah’s Quay Nomads.

Evans later became first team assistant-manager at The New Saints, where he was heavily involved in developing youth talent, but decided to don the boots again as a Caernarfon Town player in 2021-22 before later signing up as Bay boss.