Bangor are actively considering five potential candidates to become their new permanent manager as they look to turn around a difficult start to the season. The club currently sits 11th in the Premiership with just two points from their opening seven matches, a position chairman Nick Pritchard is determined to improve with a long-term appointment.

Declan McManus has been in charge as acting player-manager since the departure of Michael Johnston at the end of August, a period that included a brief interim spell from Sean Eardley. McManus has contributed eight league goals himself this campaign, but the search is on for a full-time leader. The club's ambition is clear: they want a manager who can secure promotion to the Cymru Premier and ultimately deliver European competition.

The five candidates

Chris Hughes brings extensive Cymru Premier experience, having led Newtown to a Welsh Cup final and three qualifications for UEFA competitions. A holder of the UEFA Pro Licence, he also worked as a video analyst at The New Saints, giving him a deep tactical understanding of the Welsh top flight.

Huw Griffiths is another Pro Licence holder with a strong track record in Wales. He managed Cefn Druids to a Welsh Cup final, promotion to the top flight and European football, earning the Welsh Premier League Manager of the Season award in 2018. He later guided Caernarfon Town to a Cymru Premier play-off final victory. Griffiths also has a personal connection to the area, having played for Bangor City 1876 between 2001 and 2004 and served on Peter Davenport's staff at Bangor.

Former Wales international Sam Ricketts, who earned 52 caps, offers experience from managing Wrexham and Shrewsbury Town in the English leagues. The defender played a key role in Hull City's promotion to the Premier League in the 2008/09 season. Since leaving Shrewsbury in November 2020, Ricketts has opened a builder's merchants business.

Steve Evans, currently assistant manager at Flint Town United, has expressed a desire to return to a number one role. The former Wales cap, who made history in 2008 as the first non-league player since 1930 to be capped by his country, guided Colwyn Bay to promotion into the Cymru Premier before their relegation in 2024. He briefly took charge of Flint earlier in 2026.

Gareth Wilson, manager of Brickfield Rangers, is the only candidate currently in a job. His side top the Cymru North, having won the Ardal North West title and promotion in the 2024/25 season. Wilson was named Novira Cymru North Manager of the Month for July and August and has been in charge at Brickfield since 2020, with previous experience at Prestatyn Town.

The club's requirements

The successful candidate must hold at least a UEFA A Licence, with a preference for those who already possess a UEFA Pro Licence or are actively working towards it. The club received 35 applications for the vacancy, indicating strong interest in the role at Nyddy Park. Pritchard and the board are seeking a manager with a strong personality and the calibre to match the club's ambitions.

On the pitch, the immediate challenge is stark. Bangor's recent form reads LDLDL from their last five games, with the most recent result a 3-1 defeat away to Limavady United last Tuesday. They have scored just four league goals all season while conceding sixteen. The next test is a formidable one, a home fixture against second-placed Linfield on 11 December.

The managerial search continues as the club aims to find the right person to build a squad capable of moving up the standings. With a mix of experienced heads, rising talents and former internationals in the frame, the decision will be key for Bangor's direction.

More detail at Y Clwb Pêl-droed