Bala Town appear to have upped the ante in their attempts to close the gap on WPL champions The New Saints by pulling a truck-shaped rabbit out of the hat in the form of Connah’s Quay striker Les Davies.
The powerful 6’2 centre-forward, known as ‘the Truck’, became the biggest WPL transfer of the summer so far after completing his move to Bala Town on Wednesday night.
Bala performed a similar maneuver last year when they added free-scoring midfielder Chris Venables to their squad and the arrival of 32-year old Davies from Connah’s Quay is equally ambitious.
Colin Caton has crafted a squad at Bala which already has a plethora of forward options. Hard-working Keiran Smith played the bulk of games as the team’s central striker whilst Caton has also been able to turn to Ian Sheridan, Mike Hayes and aging poacher Lee Hunt, all proven WPL performers.
Les Davies is a competent addition to that squad as someone who can provide a focal point in attack.
Gritty, experienced, technically good and a danger in and outside of the box, who can link play and lead the line by himself, there is no doubt Bala are a stronger proposition with ‘The Truck’ in their ranks. Les Davies arrives at Bala in good time for the Lakesiders’ latest European push which makes his departure from Connah’s Quay all the more surprising.
Connah’s Quay are also embarking on a Europa League qualifying campaign this summer following a campaign in which they pipped Bala to the runners-up spot. Davies was crucial as the Nomads recorded their highest ever league finish, finishing the season as their leading scoring with 9 goals from his 23 league starts.
Davies’ departure leaves a considerable hole in the Nomads’ roster with veteran Michael Wilde left as the only recognised centre-forward. The former TNS man played a reduced role this season making just 11 league starts and it is clear that Connah’s Quay must add to their striking options.
In Andy Morrison, Connah’s Quay have an as thorough and prepared manager as you will find in the WPL but he will be required to act swiftly and decisively if he is going to fill the void left by Les Davies in time for their European run.
The Nomads have returned to pre-season training ahead of their Europa League first qualifying round tie which is four weeks away and they will need any new addition to be close to match-fit condition during this off-season period.
Based on his tireless scouting and network of contacts, Andy Morrison will have no doubt had his summer recruitment strategy carefully mapped out.
Defensive additions would have already been high up on the Connah’s Quay shopping list with the defensive trio of Wez Baynes, John Disney and Lewis Short moving on and whether Morrison had anticipated Les Davies’ departure or not, his decision to join their closest rival might just have thrown those plans out of the window and forced the Nomads boss into an urgent rethink.
Featured image courtesy of Nik Mesney/NGM Media/Welsh Premier League