THE prodigal son has returned to Rhayader Town Football Club with the Red Kites announcing that Dylan McPhee is back at the Weirglodd.

The 45-year-old, who hails from Rhayader and played for them during their five-year dalliance with the Welsh Premier League in the late 1990s and early 2000s, returns after a five-year absence, during which time he enjoyed success as manager of Mid Wales rivals Builth Wells.

The hometown hero returns as head of football, hoping to offer guidance and support to a side battling relegation from tier three of Welsh football, but who have made a raft of exciting players signings this transfer window.

The Elan Valley side are languishing at the foot of the Ardal League South East table, with just two wins from their 17 games this season, which includes 11 defeats.

They have 10 points, the same as Abertillery Excelsiors, with Aberbargoed Buds a point further ahead, while safety is represented by Tredegar Town in 13th, who are just three points ahead.

McPhee says he hopes to help the Red Kites soar once more, saying: “Having been out of football for the past 14 months I felt it was the right time to come back and see if I could help Rhayader climb the league table.

“I had an amazing time at Builth and gained even more experience, but when a club that’s close to my heart comes calling and needs a little help and guidance, then I couldn’t turn it down. I am here to help the management and the players be the best they can. I can see we’re a young squad but I have been impressed with how talented they are and I think with a bit of work we can get up the league table.”

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McPhee will be working alongside first team manager Dai Davies and first team coach Matt Lewis.

Town chairman Gareth Earp is delighted with McPhee’s return, someone he described as “bleeding Rhayader”.

“It’s been a tough start to life in tier three and, having spoken to the manager, we felt some experience was needed,” said Earp. “And in all things football related at the club, who better than Macca to come in and take a good look at where the club is and help move us forward and hopefully secure our status.

“He bleeds Rhayader and his knowledge of the game from playing at the highest standards of Welsh football to managing we felt that we had to do whatever we could to see if he would come back and help with all footballing matters.

“I am absolutely over the moon that Macca has agreed to come and help the club for the remainder of the season.”

After playing for the Red Kites in the top tier of Welsh football from 1997-2002, McPhee was instrumental on the management side for almost a decade, and a key figure behind their resurgence in 2007, having folded a year earlier. But he left under a cloud in 2016, following their relegation from the Cymru Alliance, shortly taking over at Builth, where he enjoyed a successful three-year tenure.

The Bulls enjoyed a memorable period McPhee and Jason Samuel, starting with being crowned champions of the Spar Mid Wales Football League Division 2 in 2017/18, earning promotion to Division 1. They finished sixth in their first season, climbing to third in 2019/20.

McPhee abruptly announced his departure from the Lant Field in November 2020, amidst the confusion and delays that halted local sport during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic. He still lives in Builth, with his wife and two sons.