By Terry Phillips

Merthyr Town have suffered another blow with former Swansea City and Yeovil Town striker Owain Jones leaving the club.

Jones is the fifth key member of the Martyrs first team squad to move on, following striker Ian Traylor, centre-forward Gethyn Hill, goalkeeper Alex Harris and midfield player Lee Lucas.

Manager Gavin Williams is working with one of the lowest player budgets in the Betvictor Southern Premier League and he has a lot of work ahead to rebuild his squad.

He has started that process by signing 22-year-old Welsh goalkeeper Kelland Absalom.

Jones, aged 23, made 72 appearances for the football club since joining from Nuneaton Borough in 2018.

“I’m obviously gutted to lose a player of his quality,” said Manager Williams. “However, I wish him well in his new venture.”

The former Ysgol Dyffryn Aman, Ammanford pupil played junior football for Pontardawe Town before signing schoolboy forms for Swansea at the age of 10.

He scored 16 goals in 20 appearances for Swansea’s under-18 and signed his first professional contract in 2014. He was released at the end 2016–17.

Jones played for Wales at under-16, under-17, under-19 and under-21 levels.

Merthyr were 13th in the Southern Premier table when the season was called off after they had played 31 fixtures.
Truro City were top at that stage, while Walton Casuals, Beaconsfield Town and Dorchester Town were in the relegation positions.