"Llanelli AFC wishes to announce that their Manager, Peter Nicholas, will be leaving the club when his current contract expires on 31st May 2009."

Llanelli have gone through the Season without winning any silverware, having finished in second place behind Champions Rhyl in the League, losing to Port Talbot Town in the last sixteen of the Welsh Cup and being eliminated at the first stage of the Loosemores Cup.

Nicholas is the most successful Manager in the Reds history having guided the club to their first ever League Championship in 2007/08, as well as the Loosemores Cup. As a result, the ex-Wales International was awarded the Principality Welsh Premier League Manager of the Season in 2007/08.

He also masterminded the club's first ever win in Europe, when they overcame Swedish outfit Gefle IF in the UEFA Cup. The statement issued by the Club's General Manager Nigel Richards continued;

"The Chairman and Board of Directors would like to express their gratitude for the excellent work that Peter has done in the four years that he has been in charge, as the club has finished third, second twice and Won the Championship in 2008.

"Such results are unparalleled in the club's history and a significant part of the credit goes to Peter."

"The decision to not offer a new contract reflects changes the club is making towards cementing its position as a top flight club in the (Principality) Welsh Premier League and part of the overall strategic development."

The club have yet to name Nicholas' successor but they appear to have already drawn up a shortlist as the statement concludes by saying,

"The club is in talks with several parties and an announcement will be made shortly."

His first spell managing in the League of Wales was with Barry Town where he won the title in 2000/01, before he headed West to assist Colin Addison at Swansea. In November 2002, he became boss of Newport County where he stayed until 2004. He joined the Reds in August 2005 as a coach working with Director of Football Lucas Carzola Luque, but the Spaniard left in February 2006 and Nicholas was made Team Manager, and he then began to bring some success to Stebonheath.

He has also managed at International level, when he was in charge of the Wales Under 17's for 18 months in the UEFA Championships and he is also currently the Assistant Manager of the Wales Semi Professional Team to Terry Boyle.

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It is unclear whether Llanelli will promote from within or recruit from outside but Andy Legg is a possible contender. More to follow when we have it 

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