Craig Harrison, the manager who helped make The New Saints dominant in Welsh Premier League football, has taken charge at relegated Bangor City.
Former Hartlepool United and Airbus manager Harrison was unveiled during a press conference in North Wales this afternoon, a media event broadcast love on Facebook.
He immediately announced a first signing for Bangor with home-town player Les Davies returning to the club next season.
Harrison led TNS to six Welsh Premier titles, four Welsh Cups and three League Cups during his time at the helm before moving on top Hartlepool.
His record is unsurpassed in Welsh football and he has now taken on a new challenge in Welsh football.
Harrison’s job is to lead Bangor to promotion next season and regain their place in the JD Sports Welsh Premier League.
Then the Citizens will aim to re-establish themselves among the best teams in the top tier – and eventually launch a sustained challenge on champions TNS.
A Bangor statement before the press conference said ‘Success is measured by how high you bounce when you hit the bottom.’
“It’s a pleasure to be here and I love being back in Wales,” said Harrison. “I am a winner and will demand that at Bangor City.
“We want to bring success back to Bangor City, First and foremost, though, we must get back to the Welsh Premier as quickly as possible.”
Gateshead-born Harrison, a 40-year-old former Middlesbrough, Preston North and and Crystal Palace defender, moved into coaching with Airbus Uk Broughton before moving to TNS in 2011.
He stayed six years before taking over at Football League club Hartlepool following the departure of former Cardiff City manager Dave Jones. Now he is back in Wales with ambitious Bangor.
The arrival of experienced striker Davies, 33, is a major boost for Bangor, who are intent on winning the Alliance title in 2018-19.
“Les is Bangor through and through,” said Harrison. “He will do a fantastic job for us.”
Former Wales under-23 international Davies, a powerful striker, played for Bala Town in the Welsh Premier last season and now returns for a third spell at Bangor. He won the Bangor City Player of the Year award for two successive seasons during a previous stay.
Former Cardiff City coach Kevin Nicholson was Bangor manager last season and he steered them into runners-up spot at the top level, but left Nantporth after the club’s application for a tier one licence was turned down.
Now Harrison is the man taking over – and his job is to take Bangor back to the Welsh Premier and on to success.