Whelan deserves his first chance in management at the top flight, after considerable success in the Cymru Alliance, as Glantraeth's inspiration for five seasons and previously Cemaes Bay for four terms.
At those two relatively modest Anglesey cl
ubs, the achievements were substantial, being measured in league championship triumphs and league cup conquests.
The Traeth club's circumstances have been based for some time on using the best of the local talent and that will continue as Whelan's policy, to recruit the cream from North-West Wales.
Porthmadog's new manager said: "We are looking forward to the challenge obviously but know the going will be hard and, although we have signed around 18 players, we need another three or four.
"Signings have to be completed by the end of August, which puts us under a bit of pressure to get everything wrapped up properly".
As major squad acquisitions, Welsh Premier regulars elsewhere last season, Steve Kehoe and Chris Jones have switched from Llangefni Town and John Rowley from Caernarfon Town.
Other arrivals who will be in contention for line-up places: goalkeeper Dave Vickers from Buckley Town, Ben Ogilvey from Bangor City, Richard F Owen and Jonathan Peris Jones returning from Glantraeth.
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