Presteigne St Andrews FC’s experienced defender Tom Ammonds has turned down the chance to play for Rhayader Town in the Cymru Alliance, preferring to remain at Llanandras Park and help the side in the fight to get off the foot of the Spar Mid Wales League first division table.
‘Ammo’ was the subject of a seven-day approach by Rhayader who are, themselves, embroiled in a relegation fight and who clearly felt he could do a good job for them at the higher level.
“I just felt the travelling would be too much for me although obviously it is a higher standard of football so I would loved to have done it,” said Tom.
“It is 40 minutes to get to Rhayader and then you would be travelling another two or three hours up to Rhyl, Holyhead or wherever they are playing.
“So they are long, long trips and it is just not feasible for me at this time,” he added.
Despite opting to stay at Llanandras Park, Tom might have to wait a while yet for his return to first-team action after he picked up an injury during the friendly match against Builth Wells on Tuesday night.
“It was bizarre – as I fell over I just sort of fell on my big toe somehow and it just came up like a balloon straight away,” he said.
“I’m hoping to be fit for Saturday but I lasted only about 10 minutes of the second half and thought: ‘This is pointless.
“I iced it well but had to wear a bandage in bed to keep the toe cold because it was just throbbing, so I don’t really know what I have done to it,” he added.
You can click on the image alongside this story to hear Tom’s reasons for opting to remain at Llanandras Park.
Presteigne St Andrews will take on Llanrhaeadr at Llanandras Park on Saturday afternoon and it is hoped to have a match preview up online at some stage on Friday 4 February.