Lee John is back in charge of Llanelli Town, nine months after he left Stebonheath Park with the club bottom of the Cymru Premier.
The Reds announced his return on Tuesday, two days after manager Terry Boyle and general manager Colin Staples resigned. John told the club he has “unfinished business” at Llanelli, it said.
He takes over a side at the bottom of the Novira Cymru South without a league win from 11 games. Llanelli were relegated from the top flight in May.
His first game back in charge is away at Pontypridd United on Friday 30 October. Pontypridd were second in the table earlier this month.
From the Cymru South title to the bottom of the Cymru Premier: Lee John’s first spell
John joined Llanelli in November 2021 and led them to the Cymru South title in 2024/25, after finishing runners-up in each of the two seasons before.
The top flight went badly. By the time he and assistant Dr Dylan Blain left “under mutual consent” on 9 January, Llanelli were 13 points adrift of safety and had gone 11 league games without a win.
Boyle came in as interim manager and was later made permanent. The Reds still finished bottom of the Cymru Premier, with two wins from 22 league games, scoring 12 and conceding 59.
Afan Lido, Friday’s visitors to Stebonheath, are the club John leaves behind
After leaving Llanelli, John joined Afan Lido. He has been working there as assistant to manager Lee Surman.
Lido play in the same division as Llanelli and signed three of the Reds’ relegated squad in the summer: Sean Cronin, Jamie Baker and Morgan Evans.
The timing is awkward. Afan Lido are the visitors to Stebonheath Park this Friday, and the club’s statement, which gives Pontypridd the following week as John’s first game in charge, does not say who will take the team against Lido.
“Following his departure, Lee took up a position at Afan Lido, but after positive discussions with the club this week, he has made the decision to return to familiar surroundings and take on a new challenge with the Reds,” the club said.
Two points from eight, a 6-0 Welsh Cup exit, and a board that said results ‘must improve quickly’
Llanelli’s season began with a 4-1 home defeat by Newport City. By mid-September they had two points from eight games, and the board admitted results “must improve quickly”.
Boyle’s last match was a 6-0 Welsh Cup defeat at Caerau Ely. By the time he resigned on Sunday the Reds had drawn two and lost nine of their 11 league games, six points behind Llantwit Major, the next side up.
“Having already enjoyed success with the club, Lee knows exactly what it means to represent Llanelli Town, the expectations that come with the role, and the passion of the supporters,” the club said.
“His return marks the beginning of a new chapter, with everyone at the club looking forward to working together as we aim to move forward and build for the future.” It urged supporters to get behind John and the team.
Llanelli are among seven Cymru South clubs that applied this month for a licence to play in the Cymru Premier in 2027/28, so the door back to the top flight stays open if John can turn the season around.
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