Venables and Reynolds join Seasiders but Duo Leave
Wales Semi Professional International Chris Venables has signed for Aberystwyth Town and Caersws veteran Colin Reynolds also joins him at Park Avenue.
The chance to play at a bigger Stadium and for a club with a bigger fanbase were the two main catalysts for the move
The midfielder trained last night with his new club for the first time after completing his switch following a week's holiday in Tenerife.
Venables spoke to this Website this morning and said,
"I'm really pleased to sign for Aber and I'm already looking forward to the start of the season. I think that they had a good squad last year and probably should have done better with the quality that they had.
"Our ambition this season is to finish in the Top Four and we should really be looking at getting into Europe. We have an experienced Manager and I'm looking forward to working with Brian Coyne for the first time.
"The chance to play at a bigger Stadium and for a club with a bigger fanbase were the two main catalysts for the move."
Venables was only with the Lilywhites for one season and was captain of the club for a number of matches and he looked back fondly on an enjoyable season with the club,
"I enjoyed my season at Welshpool and I hope that they do well next year, which I think they will do. I got on really well with Tomi Morgan and Terry Boyle and I had to really think long and hard about leaving because of those two influences."
The 22 year-old ex-Shrewsbury Youth doesn't have the best record against his new side as he has been sent-off twice against them in the past, but he is already familiar with some of his new team-mates.
"I'm good mates with Luke Sherbon and Bari Morgan already and obviously I've played with Colin and Graham Evans at Caersws. In fact, playing with Graham again, who I also enjoyed playing with for the Wales Semi Pro, was another factor for me joining Aber and it helped me to make my final decision."
Reynolds meanwhile, has made over 500 Welsh Premier League appearances for Newtown and Caersws. He is a former Wales Semi-Professional International and became the first player to record 400 appearances in the Welsh Premier League in January 2005 against TNS. Reynolds will provide quality competition for regular centre-backs, Christian Edwards and Aneurin Thomas.
Leaving the club though are highly popular midfielder Geraint Passmore who has spent two seasons at Park Avenue. He has now graduated from Aberystwyth University and leaves the club due to work commitments. During his time with Aber, he Captained the UWA side in the Spar Mid Wales League and also featured for near neighbours Penrhyncoch in the Cymru Alliance.
Geraint will probably be best known for his Goal of the Season contender in the 4-1 victory against Bangor City at Farrar Road in the 2006/2007 season. Also departing is the left-sided Matthew Roberts, who joined in then Summer of 2005 under David Burrows' Management. The younger brother of winger Stuart, he has played in midfield and in defence for the Seasiders and made 72 appearances for Aber, being an almost ever present.
Retained players include forwards Glyndwyr Hughes, Andy Evans and Tiago Da Silva, midfielder Gareth Hughes and promising defender Ben Vangucci, who have all signed one-year extensions with the club.
