PICTURE BY WalesOnline.

JD CYMRU NORTH club Colwyn Bay has announced former Wales international Steve Evans as its new manager.

The Seagulls parted ways with Craig Hogg, who had been in charge since September 2018, just last week.

He was manager during the club’s final season in the English league system with the club returning to Wales and joining the newly established Cymru North for the 2019-20 season.

Bay finished a Covid disrupted 2019-20 campaign in fourth spot and reached the fourth round of the JD Welsh Cup.

However, the club has today announced that former Wales defender Evans has taken over at the helm for what will be his first-ever managerial role.

Wrexham-born Evans was a trainee at Crewe Alexandra and West Bromwich Albion before joining TNS in 1999, winning the Welsh Premier title in 2000 – the first of many medals he won with the club.

He was the Welsh Premier’s player of the year in 2005 before signing for hometown club Wrexham, where he spent three seasons.

During his time at the Racecourse, Evans won seven caps for Wales’ senior side under John Toshack and he has also represented the semi-professional team on nine occasions.

He returned to The New Saints in 2009 and in two spells with the club he played in 216 league games, scoring 37 goals and also featured for the club in numerous European campaigns.

Evans joined the New Saints’ first team coaching team in 2017 and was assistant manager at Park Hall until last year before making a playing comeback with Caernarfon Town at the start of the current season.

Speaking to the Colwyn Bay FC website, Evans, who is studying for the UEFA Pro Licence, said: “I think it’s a perfect fit and I’m looking forward to the challenge ahead.

“Getting back into management was always the plan and Caernarfon always knew that’s what I wanted to do and where I see my future.

“I’ve earned my stripes so to speak through the Scholarship at TNS and then as assistant manager and now I’ve got the opportunity as a manager.

“It’s a fantastic club with masses of potential. Everybody knows that it’s one of the biggest clubs in Wales.

“I can’t wait to get started and hopefully the fans will be allowed back soon and the team can play in front of them again.”