Goalkeeper Hillier-Evans leaves St Asaph to join CPD Gronant – and recruits a few others

Richard Hillier-Evans has resigned from St Asaph City’s management team and joined CPD Gronant, where he plans to resume his playing career as a goalkeeper.

Hillier-Evans, 29, was a key part of the Rhos United invincible double-winning side of last season which lifted the North Wales Coast East Division One title and REM Jones Cup. He also landed the Golden Glove award for keeping 14 clean sheets.

This season, Rhos were promoted to the Tier 4 Premier Division and Hillier-Evans took on the manager’s position, stepping back from the playing side.

Rhos struggled and last month Hillier-Evans joined Tier 3 club St Asaph as assistant-manager to Dan Sleet.

After Saints recently dispensed with Sleet’s services following a run of defeats, Hillier-Evans initially stayed on as part of the management setup, but this week decided to move on to Gronant.

He said he was unhappy with the way Sleet’s departure was handled and decided he wanted to make a new start himself.

Hillier-Evans now signs for Gronant, who play in North East Wales League Division 3, as a goalkeeper under the management of Sandy Malone.

The keeper has recruited a few other players to join the Flintshire team, including the versatile Jonny Mee, whose departure from Blue Bridge we reported last night.

Also on the way to Gronant are:

• Arron Querci, 29-year-old defender from Rhos United
• Liam Brown, 31, a midfielder formerly with Bow FC, who signs from Prestatyn Town
• Max Bailey, 21, ex-Gronant Under-19s
• Josh Morgan, 20, last season with NFA Under-23s