Steelmen sign Reds Skipper Phillips

Port Talbot Town have pulled off one of the major transfer signings of the close-season with the acquisition of Lee Phillips from Champions Llanelli.

Phillips, 29, captained Llanelli to their first ever Principality Welsh Premier League title last season, but after being offered a reduced contract by the Reds, Steelmen Manager Nicky Tucker moved swiftly to bring Phillips to Port Talbot Town.

"We have been negotiating with Lee since he rejected Llanelli's offer and I am delighted to confirm that he has agreed to join Port Talbot Town Football Club", said Tucker to the club's Website.

"Lee has a wealth of experience and is a massive signing for us. We have been building and improving our squad throughout the summer but once Lee became available, we were determined to sign him and I am immensely pleased to have brought him to the club."

We have been negotiating with Lee since he rejected Llanelli's offer and I am delighted to confirm that he has agreed to join Port Talbot Town Football Club

Phillips spent five years at Cardiff City before moving onto play for Forest Green Rovers, Barry Town, Newport County and most recently Llanelli. With Phillips' experience in the Football League and in Europe, Phillips is a major signing for the Re/Max Stadium side.

There is excellent competition for defensive places at the club with Wales Semi Pro defender Lee Surman, ex-Wales squad member and current captain Matthew Rees, impressive full-back Mark McGibbon and new signing from Merthyr Darren Davies, who plays left-back. Phillips can play anywhere across the back-four, so his versatility will be useful to Tucker. He was also used in midfield by Peter Nicholas at Stebonheath.

The Welsh Cup final defeat to Bangor City proved to be the last game for Phillips at Llanelli and he will be disappointed that his Reds' career ended in defeat and with him conceding a penalty in extra-time, but the opportunity for a new start at the ambitious Afan Nedd side, could be just the tonic.