Horan to stay with Lilywhites but Brewerton, Ruffer and Gann Leave

Rhyl's defender and captain George Horan has re-signed for the club after speculation that he was set to leave after their Intertoto Cup match.

It had been reported that full-time outfits had offered the 26-year old the opportunity to go fully professional, but he has today signed on the dotted line for Alan Bickerstaffe. Horan joined Rhyl from Connah's Quay Nomads for the 2005/06 season and has made over 100 first team appearances for the Lilies.

There are three players leaving the club though as defensive duo Jamie Brewerton and Carl Ruffer have both played their last games for Rhyl. The longest-serving player at the club and local lad Brewerton has quit after joining the club in 1999 from Conwy Utd. It is likely that he will join Bangor City, and he will be available to play in the UEFA Cup for the Citizens. The defender made his 300th appearance for Rhyl in the first leg of the Intertoto Cup tie against Bohemian in Dublin.

Club Secretary Joe Furnival has confirmed that Ruffer has left by mutual agreement halfway through his two-year contract. The former Chester City player had an impressive first season with the Lilywhites and was named Supporters Player of the Year for 2007/08, but struggled notably in the two Intertoto Cup ties against Bohemians.

Goalkeeper John Gann has also left after making his final appearance for the Lilywhites on Saturday in the Intertoto Cup. The stopper was a late call-up to the side against Bohemians following Lee Kendall's illness and although he suffered a communication breakdown twice with Carl Ruffer for two of the Bohs goals, he did show his quality mid-way through the second-half with an outstanding reflex save to deny Jason Byrne.

Gann started last season as the Lilywhites Number One and did very well against Finland's FK Haka in the UEFA Cup, but he was then condemned to Reserve team football for the majority of the domestic campaign, following the arrival of the League's Top 'Keeper Lee Kendall on the eve of the season's Kick-Off.

John Hulse signed Gann in October 2005 as cover for Paul Whitfield, but after playing in the reserves, he was called-up to the side when incumbent first choice Whitfield was cup tied for the Welsh Cup. The Birkenhead-born stopper played his part in the club's progress to the Welsh Cup Final and was an important member of the side, which lifted the Trophy against Bangor City at the Racecourse. He made 33 league appearances for the first team over three seasons.