The New Saints entire squad will turn semi-professional from next season, as they bid to compete at the top end of the Adran Premier.
The move also brings a change in the Park Hall dugout as Greg Draper leaves his role as head coach after three successful seasons, replaced by UEFA A Licence candidate Shauna Duffy who was a Girls’ RTC Coach at Liverpool for six years.
Duffy, who becomes the only female Head Coach in the Genero Adran Premier, will be supported by new Assistant Coach, Tom Peevor, and a new Women’s Sports Therapist, Fliss Winters. Peevor joins after five years at Shrewsbury Town Women, Winters comes with experience of roles with The FA, Aston Villa, Liverpool Girls RTC and the Alliance Football Club in Dubai.
Head of Women & Girls’ Football, Shauna Duffy, told tnsfc.co.uk: “This is an extremely exciting time for the continued progression of The New Saints Women on and off the pitch as we look to strive for success in the upcoming season and beyond. This commitment to move to a semi-professional contracted model will be beneficial for all players at the club and ensure we can continue to challenge at higher echelons of the league.”
The New Saints Chairman, Mike Harris, said: “We are delighted to move into a semi-professional model for our Women’s team which reinforces our commitment to growing the women’s side of the football club. We will continue to ensure we are at the forefront and setting the standard to support the FAW’s growth of women’s football during an exciting time for the game in Wales.”
