A Steep Learning Curve: Exclusive Interview with Iwan Williams.

With the recent bad weather resulting in a virually non-existent fixture schedule over the past six weeks, I thought it was time to ask Caernarfon Town manager Iwan Williams if he would be happy to sit down and share his thoughts on his first nine months as manager of the Cofis. 

I was pleased, and not a little chuffed, when he agreed and set about putting together a list of questions that I wanted to ask him. Never one to shirk a challenge, Iwan answered each and every one in great detail and in so doing I believe he has provided a revealing insight into his first months   as manager of the Canaries. I hope everyone finds this as interesting as I do!
Diolch yn fawr iawn  Iwan! 

How has your first few months in the job been?

Iwan: Tough! It’s been a steep learning curve for me since becoming Manager of this fantastic Football Club but one that I’ve enjoyed. Thankfully, there have been more ups than downs thus far, and long may that continue!

"I had prepared for the hard work."

You have been playing at a high level for a number of years and will obviously be aware of the heavy workload managers at this level are burdened with, but has the job been different to what you had been expecting and if, so, in what way? Have you been faced with any unexpected surprises?

Iwan: I’ve played for some fantastic managers over the years and still speak to most of them on a weekly basis, and they continue to give me good advice. I had prepared for the hard work and stressed to the club’s Board and my family that I was going to put everything into it.

I think it all depends on what you want out of the job I suppose. I’ve set myself goals and objectives which won’t be achieved by cutting corners.

What has been the most pleasing aspect of the job thus far?

Iwan: When I was named as the new manager, I knew people would question the Board’s decision and rightly so given I have no previous managerial experience. Having said that I think I’ve managed to change some peoples’ perceptions, which is always good.

However being top of the pile at Christmas having endured a relatively poor start to the season has to be the most pleasing aspect up to now. That is down to the players though, as I can only do so much until they cross that white line on a Saturday.

We still have a lot of work to be done but I firmly believe we’re on the right track.

What has been the most frustrating part of the job up to now?

The referees……only joking!

Having experienced the injury crisis we did in September, not having a Reserve side or a permanent Under 19’s side to dip into and utilise has been very frustrating. We had to cancel training sessions to keep the fit players wrapped in cotton wool and went into some matches with less than eleven  who were fully fit. This meant that we had to bring new faces in whilst the injured players recovered, so having to balance and keep everyone happy has been a tough and frustrating task. Hopefully that will change next season and in my eyes it has to, not only for the benefit of the first team but also because of the number of talented young players around the Caernarfon area.

I know you have a strong philosophy on how you want the team to play and this is how the team team began at the beginning of the season. However I have seen slight changes in the formation in certain matches and was wondering if this something you had planned for or was it something you’ve felt you’ve needed to adapt along the way?

Iwan: As a manager you have to know how and when to adapt. As a team, we have a core philosophy which we try to stick to. However, with the winter months causing heavy damage to pitches we’ve had to change some of our tactics. We’re never going to be able to play the style I want us to play all through the season, so sometimes we have to play percentages. Before every game, we assess the condition of the pitch, the players we might face, then adapt our tactics and pick the team accordingly.

From listening to you speaking about the game, and from what I’ve heard from the players, you have a very professional attitude which I believe shows in the way the team plays and the players conduct themselves. Can you explain the things that make a difference and why you feel it is so important to be as professional as possible?   

Joe Williams and Rob Jones recovering after a training session.

Iwan: I’m a big believer in preparation and recovery, regardless of the standard you play at. We introduced pre-game team meetings away from the changing rooms to make sure the players switch on for the matches properly. We also introduced post-game protein shakes to recover especially during winter months or when we play three games in seven days. Its little margins that make the difference in football and I also believe that it helps attract players if they know that you’re trying to do things the right way. If we want to be in the Welsh Premier League, then I believe it’s important to prepare the players now for some of my expectations should we manage to get there.

Gareth Edwards poses with Ken  Doherty
as he gets ready for some extra running.

With this in mind, what do you think about the players being spotted at various times recently stocking up on their calories in McDonalds?
Iwan: Haha!! ‘The foreigners’ (Gaz, Ellis, Rob and Joe) as I like to call them, continue to assure me that they were invited to go for a meal with snooker legend Ken Doherty. However, I doubt that he would invite them to McDonalds!

Just ask them about 70/70’s at training! The more comments or pictures I see on social media of them eating and drinking unhealthily, the more running they do in training!

The personnel has changed within the team since the Summer and you’ve brought in a number of players into the squad. Can you explain your thoughts about bringing in Rob Jones, Danny Brookwell, Darren Thomas and Kevin Lloyd to the club?

Unfortunately, at this level players come and go on a regular basis, and again without a Reserve side we as a management team cannot stand still. You have to be active and watch as many matches as possible to continually improve your squad.

Rob Jones.

I had played with Rob Jones at Connahs Quay so knew what he had to offer. He started the season at Conwy and when we played them in September he bossed the game in every aspect which immediately made me want to bring him on board. He also has the experience to go with his ability,  having played for Connahs Quay and Bangor for a number of years in the WPL.

Danny was a different story. I played for Llanfairpwll years ago when Danny came and did pre-season with us as a young lad when he was home from the Marines. I knew back then that he had something special about him.

Danny Brookwell.

When I heard he was back for good and playing at Glantraeth I went to watch him a couple of times. In one of the games he scored a goal from the half way line and then nearly got sent off for kicking out. I saw enough to confirm to myself that he had good enough ability, and could handle himself physically, to deserve a chance in the Cymru Alliance, and he hasn’t disappointed.

There’s not much I can say about Darren Thomas that people don’t already know. I’ve played in the same team as Darren and know what he’s capable of so when players of his calibre become available, you just have to make room for them. He’s been top drawer since coming back in and I think he’s enjoying his football more than ever. His performances certainly prove that.

Darren Thomas has been "top-drawer".

"Kev Lloyd has been fantastic since he re-joined." 

Kev Lloyd was a thorn in the two games we’ve played against Llanrug since I took over at Caernarfon. He scored in both games also. People questioned the thought of bringing him back as he had a reputation of being disruptive. I can honestly say that I’ve seen no signs of this. In fact it’s been the complete opposite. He has been fantastic since he’s re-joined and if anything I’ve criticised him for being too much of a team player by looking to play his team-mates in instead of going for goal himself. Kev loves the club, and the supporters and the celebrations after he scored against Denbigh proved that the relationship is mutual.

You also signed Tom Taylor recently and explained that it would take time for him to regain match fitness following injury. What is the latest regarding Tom?

Iwan: For me, Tom has the potential to be the best Centre Half in the Welsh Pyramid and I was pleased he wanted to join us. He trained with a Welsh Premier League club in the summer and unfortunately suffered a serious knee injury. He had surgery and is now looking to get back to match fitness. We’ve sent him out on ‘loan’ to Llangefni to get competitive minutes and I will monitor and look to bring him back into the squad as soon as he is ready.

What has been the highlight of the first half of the season for you?

Iwan: Being top at Christmas and developing such a great changing room where players are genuinely working hard for one another. 

Can you pick out the team’s three best performances so far?

Beating Bala at home in the Word Cup has to be up there. They fielded such a strong side that night and having gone a goal down early on and then come back to win the game in the manner we did was very pleasing.

A special night at the Bangor University Stadium.

Beating Bangor away at The Bangor University Stadium was a special night for everyone connected to the club. The following we took that night was incredible and an experience that will live with me forever. We also only had eleven players fit for the game so to out-battle them in the manner we did was exceptional.

Personally though, I have to say that my most pleasing performance was Away at Prestatyn recently. We took a beating from them at home in the second game of the season and got taught a lesson. That was a defeat I took very hard. To go a goal down early on and come back to win the game against our title rivals was again brilliant and credit must go to the squad for their mental strength. It put the 2-4 defeat at the Oval to bed and proved to many people how much we’ve developed as a squad since the start of the season.

What has been the biggest disappointment thus far?

Iwan: The Welsh Cup game at Goytre has to be my biggest disappointment to date. The Welsh Cup is a competition I loved to play in, so to go out in the manner we did was disappointing. We controlled the whole of the first half and missed countless chances. The rest is history!

Who has been the best team you’ve faced this season?

Iwan: Prestatyn were big, strong and dominant in our home game against them early on in the season.

I also admired Gresford’s performance against us at the Oval. They came with a game plan and stuck to it very well. They frustrated us immensely and I admired their keeper’s performance.

I remember talking to you at the Oval before your announcement as our manager and you told me that you were nervous about managing such a big club. Do you still feel this way?

Iwan: I tend to get nervous about things regardless of what I do. I think it’s because I’m desperate to do well.

To get the call welcoming me to the Oval from the Chairman was something I never expected, so to actually be appointed Caernarfon Town manager so early on in my managerial career was something I was grateful for. I was nervous because I was desperate to repay the faith shown in me by the Board. I still get nervous before every game, and tend to not sleep the night before. Fear of being a failure is something that I fight against on a daily basis whether it’s at work or with Caernarfon, so that nervousness will never leave me.

Have you been surprised by the level of support the club has?

Iwan: Not at all. I firmly believe that this club has the best support in Wales. I still smile when looking back on the photos of them all at the Bangor game! If we were to get to the WPL I believe we’d outnumber any club on their own patch! It’s not just the number of fans that Caernarfon Town Football Club has that’s impressive, it’s the passion they bring with it.

Iwan with Town's Head of Academy Haydn Jones. 

Your motto is ‘One Club’ and you have certainly been taking a keen interest in all aspects of the club since joining us. What do you think of the work Haydn and Nathan carry out with the Academy and Football in the Community respectively, how important is their work, and how have you been involved?

Iwan: What Haydn, the Academy coaches and staff and Nathan have done over the past couple of years is fantastic. They’ve developed two successful entities which have given the young footballers in Caernarfon and the area a pathway to eventually feed into the first team whilst Nathan’s Football in the Community Project has brought the Caernarfon Community closer to the club. I’ve tried to delve into things as much as possible with the Academy by showing a keen interest in attending their games and getting to know some of the children. For Nathan, I managed to gain sponsorship for him to buy new equipment etc. It’s important that we support both of them from a first team perspective as much as we can, and I will continue to do so.

You have also taken a keen interest in the Canaries Club. How have you been involved with them and what are your thoughts on the work they are doing?

Iwan: The Canaries Club are a very special group of people. When I met them before the star of the season  we sat down at the ground and spoke about football. I was seriously taken aback with how passionate they were towards the club. The amount of fundraising and work they’ve done, and the support they’ve shown me is one of the main reasons why I want to get this club back to the WPL as quickly as possible.

How frustrating has the last two months been, with all the postponed matches at a time the team had been playing so well?

Iwan: Very. We have momentum at the moment and have not lost in the league since September, so you can’t help but worry that when games get called off on a regular basis, it might disrupt us. However, with the mentality and work ethic these lads possess I don’t think many things would disrupt them once they step onto a football field. They are fully focussed on winning matches and it’s only a matter of time until we play all of our opponents anyway.

How have you tried to keep the team as match fit as possible during such inactivity?

Iwan: Yes, we’ve had to be innovative in trying to work around these postponements and keeping the group ticking over together. It’s been difficult to find a venue to suit when fixtures don’t get called off until the morning of the match. For example, when our home game against Flint got cancelled I managed to get us into the Main Hall at Canolfan Brailsford for a training session (see photos). The venue wasn’t ideal to work on team shape and patterns of play but we made the most of it and combined small sided games with a bit of fitness work.

Can you discuss the training match behind closed doors at Airbus, and the reason why you played it? Also, I believe some of the team’s Under 16’s were given a run out? How many of the youngsters played and how did they do? 

Iwan: Having not played since the Denbigh game on the 18^th of December I was a bit concerned about going into such a big game against Prestatyn lacking competitive minutes. I’m on the A Licence with Airbus’ Assistant Manager and he offered us the chance to travel up there to play them in a friendly at short notice. I jumped at the opportunity and so did the players. We managed every player’s minutes taking into account the Prestatyn game was to follow a couple of days later, and also brought some youngsters with us to sample the environment and to gain experience. Aaron Davies Thomas and Huw Williams from our Under 16’s side came, so did Ashley Owen who represented the Under 19’s and he is someone I will keep a close eye on between now and the end of the season. All three handled and conducted themselves very well and were a credit themselves as well as Haydn and the Academy.

Garden Gnomes?

Obviously it’s important that the players stay healthy during this weather and, judging by this photo you took recently, I assume you’ve told them all to wear hats? Who’s got the best headgear in the team?

Iwan: I am big on players looking after themselves and staying healthy but I have to be honest, wearing those woolly hats was not my idea! I thought we had a fleet of garden gnomes sitting at one side of the dressing room at Mold when Darren, Jay and Nathan turned up in those awful hats. So the answer is no-one possesses the best headgear! Having said that, Jamie Breese trumps the three of them as he keeps turning up in awful snapbacks which he wears the wrong way round and can only still be fashionable in Welshpool or America. The four of them though, haven’t got the slightest idea about fashion like I have!

Summer football, or are you a traditionalist?

Iwan: This is something I’ve been vocal about recently given how frustrated I’ve been over the amount of games we’ve had called off. In the past I don’t think that anyone could argue when I tell people that,  as a player, I was as traditional as they come. I

Jamie Breese donning one of his snapbacks.

loved a derby match in the wind and rain, but nowadays, being a student of the game, I’ve completely changed my opinion. My argument is that if we were to switch to the summer then matches would not be called off (or not as often!), it would attract bigger crowds, the standard of football would be better and for the WPL clubs competing in Europe, it would mean they would be stronger and fitter when the ties come round as they’ll be half way through their domestic season. Just a thought!

Which FAW course are you now on?

Iwan: I’m on the UEFA A Licence course which I will be completing in May.

Have you been taking part in analysis work during recent Wales Under 16’s matches?

Iwan: Yes I was part of the analysis team that studied the Welsh Under 16’s during their participation in the Victory Shield. It’s for coaches to enhance their learning on a Continued Development Programme where they call you in and give you topics to study during the game. Then at half-time and full-time you spend time with some of the coaches running through your findings which can help them gain some information on topics the Under 16’s need to improve on as they prepare for the next match.

We’ve just passed the half way mark in the league season and the team is currently joint top of the table with Cefn Druids. How will you and the team approach the second half of the season, and do you think we’re in with a chance of getting back into the WPL? 

Iwan: We’ll approach the second half of the season the same as the first. We have fourteen cup finals left and if we apply ourselves properly and continue to approach the games as professionally as possible then there is no reason why we cannot get back to the WPL.

I must mention that we not only have a talented group of players at present but the morale and togetherness within the dressing room is up there with the best I’ve experienced. They are willing to work hard for one another and if they continue to do that then the quality will look after itself.

Finally, do you have a message for the club’s supporters?

Iwan: Thanks for your continued support. Keep following us in numbers as you have done throughout. We share the same goal as you and are determined to repay your support by doing everything we can to achieve promotion. Diolch.