PRESTATYN Town have moved quickly to appoint a new management team following the resignation of Neil Gibson.

The JD Cymru North champions were dealt a hammer blow when Gibson decided to remove himself from the club following a dispute with chairman Jamie Welsh, which has also seen all of last season’s title-winning squad who are fiercely loyal to the boss leave for pastures new.

A new era at the Seasiders’ officially began with the appointment of John Lawless as manager, a Liverpool-based former player who has turned out for the likes of Marine, Colwyn Bay and The New Saints during a standout playing career.

Also joining him at the UK Leisure Living Stadium is David Mannix, who was part of the Liverpool FC squad that secured a memorable Champions League win over AC Milan and has previously worked as part of the coaching staff at Bangor City.

The one remaining figure behind the scenes is Ryan Turner, who has agreed to stay on as first team coach under the new regime, with Lee Dickson rounding off the new management structure in a role of coach.

Task number one for Lawless and his staff will be to put together a squad capable of challenging at the top end of the table, although it appears highly unlikely there will be any sort of football played this year as coronavirus pandemic restrictions remain in place.

Welsh, said: “This has been a crazy few weeks at the club. Never in my mind did I think we would need to go out and find a new management team and players after all the effort we put in over the summer to keep last season’s squad, but that has been the case.

“The minute John called me and expressed his interest in the position, I knew we had a great candidate for the job. The passion and energy in which he spoke convinced me he was the right man.

“I just ask all Prestatyn Town fans to give the lads a chance to put a team out on the pitch that makes them proud. Last season’s team has gone.

“It’s devastating that they’re not supporting a JD Cymru Premier side but our aim remains the same – to win the league, whenever it may start, get this club promoted and back among the top tier in Welsh football.”