CAERSWS go into the new campaign among the contenders for MMP-NL Mid Wales League One honours.

A new management team comprising of Mark Griffiths, David Jones and former Guilsfield stalwart Gareth Jones will look to mastermind a promotion bid.

Long serving clubman Graham Jones has retired while midfielders Luke Sherbon and Rhydian Davies have departed to Penrhyncoch.

Aled Jones and Mark Edmonson have both impressed since their summer arrival from Tywyn Bryncrug while retaining a majority of last season’s squad.

Meanwhile defender Tom Richards returns from local rivals Carno.

Manager Mark Griffiths said: “We know it will be a tough league but we want to be challenging for the title and getting this great club back in the Alliance.”

The Bluebirds can expect fierce local derbies and a title challenge from Llanidloes Town and Carno.

The Daffodils have strengthened with the arrival of Knighton Town stars Adam Worton and Connor Bird with defender Dewi Allen joining from Radnor Valley.

Meanwhile Carno manager Chris Davies has snapped up Callum Page and Harry Cottam from Machynlleth and Rhayader Town’s Ryan Rowlands to bolster the Greens own challenge for honours following a summer overhaul.

Davies said: “We only have five players remaining from last season. We’ve brought in a few young lads and mixed that in with some experienced players and are confident of a good season.”

Welshpool Town suffered a blow with striker Adam Davies returning to Midlands League Haughmond Town after helping the Lilywhites to runners-up last season.

Striker Will Thomas will look to lead the line with Pool adding midfield prospects Jake Mann, Josh Morgan and Newtown defender Jordan Jones to their squad.

Joint-manager Neil Pryce said: “It will be difficult to repeat last year’s second place finish which was club’s first top six finish since being back in the Mid Wales League.

“Losing Adam is massive blow but hopefully the new signings will give us a more youthful look and add a bit more energy to our team.”

Berriew manager Dave Jones will expect a vastly improved campaign following his summer overhaul including the return of striker Richard Davies from Caersws.

Striker Joe Haycock arrives from Churchstoke while Abermule pair Drew Cook and Charlie Humphreys join ex-TNS pair Rhys Edkins and Tom Williams and Maesyrhandir striker Xavier Mattisse in bolstering the Rhiewsiders.

Manager David Jones said: “I am pleased with our transfer dealings having strengthened in all areas and particularly pleased to finally manage to secure the services of Joe Haycock and Charlie Humphreys after a few years of trying.

“We have a youthful team and and I am hopeful we can improve on last season ninth place finish.”

Radnor Valley will look to build last season’s promising campaign having raided Herefordshire League side Kington Town for Callum Davies, Jack Price, Zeke Vivian and Fred Newtown with defender Mark Davies arriving from Pegasus.

Joint -manager Paul Morgan said: “A lot of the lads have now played together for more than five years and remain a young squad.

“We are coming into our third season at this level confident of challenging at the top end of the table.”

Llanfair United will also look to mount a sustained challenge following a promising pre-season with manager Rhys Stephens also looking to usher in the next generation.

“We are looking forward to a really competitive season,” said Stephens. “A majority of last years under 16s have signed senior forms so we’re in a good place as a club.”

New Churchstoke manager Andrew Green has looked to offset the loss of striker Haycock to Berriew with the arrival of Ben Phillips from Haughmond Town while midfielder Jason Mynett joins from Craven Arms Town.

“It is never easy to lose a player like Joe but the team is ready for a fight in this very tough league,” said Green.

Kerry will also be under new management this season with Alex Cookson taking over from the long serving Joe Andrew

Caersws trio Jack Hughes, Jordan Dean and Cameron Vowles join Maesyrhandir’s Cenwyn Jones and Alex Wilson of Newtown Wanderers at Dolforgan Park.

Cookson said: “We are up for the challenge. We have a young side but with plenty of experience too so it’s an exciting time.”

Gareth Jones will hope to avoid last season’s basement battle with the new Llandrindod Wells manager snapping up goalkeeper Joey Prosser and defender Corin Jones while also bringing midfielder Mike Collister to Broadway from Caersws.

New Knighton Town manager Adriano Girolami has signed striker Owen Holdsworth from Churchstoke and Lucas Kirby from Newbridge while goalkeeper Jake Woodhouse joins from Craven Arms Town while promoting Brian Whyte, Jack Hoyle and Ieuan Davies from the club’s junior ranks.

Newly promoted Builth Wells have raided Knighton for Sam Roff and Mark Jones to boost their promotion winning squad with ex-Caersws assistant manager Dylan McPhee now at the helm while fellow new boys Llansanttfraid Village will look to striker Nathan Prodger to lead the line in their first season back in the first tier of the Mid Wales League.

Bow Street expect a season of rebuilding having lost several key players during the summer, including Tom Evans to Welsh Premier side Aberystwyth Town with Wales under 18s goalkeeper Alex Pennock coming in the opposite direction.

Tywyn Bryncrug have endured a frustrating summer with strikers Aled Jones and Mark Edmonson switching to Caersws while Ben Richards departed for Machynlleth.

The Cormorants will look to Cuillen and Ethan Rodgers to step up with the experience of Nick Williams, Kevin Evans, Aston Heath and Ryan Goddard along with the goals of Tom Allen-Davies.

Aberaeron have lost Chris Wilkins to Bont while Liam Jacques, Mike Gornall and Anthony Evans have all switched to Penparcau during a testing summer for the Seasiders who are boosted by the retention of top scorer Mattie Davies and youngster Osian Rees-Jones from Aberystwyth Town.