Fil Wisniewski will be in charge of Hay St Marys who head for Penparcau in the Spar Mid Wales League tomorrow (Saturday).
Former boss Wisniewski replaces Chris Baynton who has stepped down after a meeting with the club’s committee last weekend and will remain as caretaker manager until the end of the current campaign.
Hay Chairman Martin Tong admitted that following those discussions the committee had accepted Baynton’s letter of resignation.
“We feel Chris has done an excellent job and at the start of the season would have been more than happy with a mid-table position and enjoyed the Cup runs we have had under his guidance,” said Tong.
“Chris has had to compete with teams who pay players and it is very difficult to bring in players who are being offered money elsewhere.
“We have suffered of late with a couple of injuries to key players and results have shown that.
“We have asked Chris to remain on the committee as his football knowledge and ideas are first class.
“Everyone at Hay St Marys wishes Chris the best in whatever he decides to do and the same goes for his assistant Vernon Weale.”
Baynton said: “I think the decision is right for everyone concerned.
“I feel I have totally underestimated the commitment and coaching qualities needed to lift this team from the Mid Wales League (South) to the Spar Mid Wales League and, had I carried on, the time required would directly affect my work commitments.
“Hay are a fantastic club and will be successful. I have been asked to remain on the committee and am considering that.”
As for his future, Baynton added: “I have no immediate plans and after 25 years in the game I’m just looking forward to a rest.”
Hay made a great start to the season following their promotion from the Mid Wales League (South). The Saints enjoyed a successful run in the Welsh Cup and were the last remaining team from the Spar Mid Wales League in the FAW Trophy Competition.
Four successive wins in the league in October and November and all was well but since then Hay have won just one from their last six and officials were becoming concerned with the possibility of up to five teams facing relegation.
But the league is so tight this time and, although Hay are just four points off that relegation zone, others might point to the fact should they win their three games in hand they would be level on points with current leaders Aberystwyth Reserves.
Tomorrow’s game at Penparcau will be the first meeting between the sides at this level and the teams also have to play one another in a League Cup quarter finals.
Penparcau would have gone top last week with a win at Waterloo Rovers but dropped to sixth following a surprise 3-0 defeat. They were without top scorer Mattie Davies and some good news for Hay, who themselves have a doubt over midfielder Sam Powell, is that the striker, who has bagged 21 Spar League goals this term, completes his two match ban and again misses out tomorrow.
Player-boss Tim Broome will be calling for more of the same when Presteigne visit Aberystwyth College on the back of that stunning first half showing at Llansantffraid.
The teams played put a goalless draw at Llanandras Park earlier in the season when Presteigne’s Trevor Gummer excelled in saving a penalty.
The students have won eight in the row in all competitions, including six from six in the league, and provide Presteige with the first of three testing trips to Aberystwyth with Penparcau and Aberystwyth Reserves next up.
Broome confirmed that the club have served seven days on Newtown midfielder Dan Dawson who has represented the Central Wales FA at under-18 level this season and also been called up to the North Wales College squad.
But Tom Goodwin, whose season has been blighted by injury, is set to join Llandrindod Wells. Sam Williams is likely to be back in the starting line-up tomorrow after injury but Glen Tolley is a doubt due to work commitments.
Williams played in a 1-0 friendly win at Ludlow Town on Tuesday night when Presteigne had a look at former Blackburn Rovers and Swansea City youngster Jack Keating.
Rhayader player-manager Dylan McPhee had targeted a nine point haul from Rhayader’s three games following a recent defeat at Aberystwyth Town Reserves.
And the Weirglodd men achieved the first part of that treble with victory over The Bluebirds last week.
Tomorrow Rhayader visit Llanfyllin Town with Christian Jones set to return from illness but McPhee still has a question mark over the fitness of Mark Davies while influential midfielder Tom Bethell will be sidelined for at least another month.
McPhee remains keen to strengthen his squad and has served seven days notice on a player he refused to name earlier this week.
Newbridge, at the bottom of the table following six straight defeats, are at home against an in-form Carno without Rhys Thomas.
He serves a one match ban following his sending off last week.