BANGOR City’s decision to let experienced striker Ashley Ruane go looks to be coming back to haunt them following their latest goal-shy display.

The Citizens’ parted ways with the striker earlier this year as part of significant changes across the board by new chairman Dominico Serafino, which also saw manager Stephen Vaughan Jr and director of football Max Leghissa depart the set-up.

There were said to be financial implications behind the decision, which is understandable given City’s recent problems, but from a footballing perspective, the move was a bizarre one at the time and one that appears to be more regrettable with every passing game.

With just 14 goals in their opening 11 JD Cymru North outings, their struggles to find the back of the net are seriously hampering their ability to climb the table and challenge for a top four spot, with a tilt at the crown already looking like a distant memory thanks to the sensational recent form of runaway leaders Prestatyn Town.

Ruane is one of the most accomplished finishers anywhere in the region during his time playing within the Welsh system, scoring plenty of goals wherever he has been.

This has included recent stints at JD Cymru Premier sides’ such as Aberystwyth Town, Connah’s Quay Nomads and Cefn Druids, in addition to a prolific spell within the English structure at Colwyn Bay before their return to home soil this year.

Players with that sort of goal scoring experience and pedigree are extremely hard to find, so for City to part ways with Ruane so early in the season is simply bewildering given their need for a clinical finisher.

Patrick Agyemang, Francesco Serafino and Aldair Neto are all very good with the ball at their feet, but there is a lot to be said for a menace inside the box that consistently gets into good positions, something which has brought a great deal of success for Ruane over the years.

Their 2-0 home loss at the hands of Guilsfield on Saturday was another strong example of City’s lack of conviction in the final third, and this is a problem that needs to be rectified sooner rather than later if they are to avoid further complications down the road.

Communication between the international players at the club and domestic figures such as Ruane may also have contributed to his release, but getting him on board during a troubled time in the summer was considered to be a coup and an opportunity they visibly wasted.

What comes next for the Citizens’ on and off the field under Pedro Pasculli remains to be seen, but there is nothing to suggest Ruane could not make this team better at the present moment in time.