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Burnley’s former Welsh international winger James remained in the North West for a number of years after his playing days were over and managed a number of non-league clubs besides working as a football pundit on Radio Lancashire.
He returned to his native South Wales following the tragic death of his friend and former colleague with both Swansea and Wales Robbie James. Robbie collapsed and died whilst playing for Llanelli against Porthcawl Town in February 1998 at the age of 40 and the following summer he took over his old friend’s role as manager.
He took them back into the League of Wales, considered by many to have completed the job started by Robbie, but left in May 2000 in what were described as mysterious circumstances having taken the club to their highest ever finish of fifth in the League of Wales. It was a decision that the supporters found difficult to accept, so popular was he.
At the beginning of this month Peter Nicholas resigned as manager although he said it was in no way at all connected to the fact that they had just lost their ninth successive game. On the day of his departure the name of Leighton James was linked but the supporters, although hoping, were not confident that they could get the man they wanted.
They have though and Taffy also brings with him his assistant from his previous spell there, Wyndham Evans, who is Llanelli born and bred. In the time he has been away there have been five other managers including Nicholas.
They have just five points from fourteen games this season and have now suffered ten defeats since their last point in a draw at Caernarvon Town on 7th September. It is expected that Taffy will be looking to strengthen the squad as soon as possible although he won’t be able to bring players in to Stebonheath Park other than from lower leagues until the transfer window opens in January of next year.
He is in charge for tomorrow’s League of Wales game at Rhyl and it can be safely assumed that life will not be quiet around Llanelli in the immediate future.