IT'S THE START OF A NEW DAWN - STRONG

GREG STRONG believes Rhyl are on the verge of a new dawn.
The Lilywhites player-boss is full of optimism ahead of Sunday's Welsh Premier League visit to Bangor City.
With five key players departing but eight new signings made in the transfer window there is a wind of change in the air at Belle Vue.
But Strong insists that air is positive and there is a massive sense of anticipation and excitement in the champions' camp.
"It's the start of a new dawn," said the player-manager. "There are a lot of new players here who have been like a breath of fresh air. Everyone around the place has been given a lift, there's a real buzz around."
Strong's early months in management have been far from easy - indeed the phrase baptism of fire could have been invented for him.
In his first season in the hot seat, the former Premiership defender has had to overcome hurdles which would have caused lesser men to throw in the towel months ago.
But the word negative does not enter Strong's vocabulary. Despite such a difficult first season in charge at Belle Vue, the Lilywhites boss is only looking to the future with optimism.
"I'm a great believer in the phrase what doesn't kill you makes you stronger," said the 34-year-old former Bolton Wanderers, Wigan Athletic and Motherwell centre-back.
"Yes, the past few months have been difficult, it's all been new to me, but if we can all work through this together and remain positive we can all be better and wiser for it over the other side."
When Strong arrived at Belle Vue as a player at the start of the 2008/09 season Rhyl became the 17th club of his much-travelled career.
His debut campaign could hardly have gone better. With then president Peter Parry ploughing considerable resources into the club that summer, the Lilywhites assembled a star-studded squad which went on to lift the Welsh Premier League title in record-breaking fashion.
Strong himself was an outstanding success playing alongside George Horan in central defence and the Bolton-born stopper's leadership qualities on the field did not go unnoticed.
The somewhat bizarre departure last July of championship-winning coach Allan Bickerstaff led to Strong unexpectedly being appointed player-manager.
But the new man at the helm was not about to enjoy the luxuries of his predecessor with Strong being told he would have to operate on a considerably reduced budget - and he ended up losing 13 members of the previous season's successful squad.
The new chief faced a race against time to even get a team on the field for the opening fixture of the 2009/10 campaign against Carmarthen Town, but Strong refused to panic, bringing on board quality ex-pros such as Tyrone Kirk and Chris Williams to play alongside remaining stars of the calibre of Mark Connolly, George Horan and Matthew Williams.
And the season could not have started better, Rhyl going 13 matches unbeaten and by early October they held a five-point lead at the Welsh Premier summit.
But off the field there were problems. Difficulties in securing an advance on Champions League prize money led to talk of a cash-crisis and much unsettling speculation, then in December came the bombshell that main backer Parry was standing down as president and leaving the club.
Coupled with this, results suffered. After thrashing Bala 4-0 on October 9, Rhyl went on to win just two of their next 11 league matches.
The turn of the year has brought major upheaval with established giants Lee Hunt, Horan and Greg Stones leaving Belle Vue in the window due to the club's financial difficulties, along with winger Luke Holden, who had been on loan at Charlton Athletic, switching to Wrexham.
But Strong has refused to buckle, bringing in promising new young talent in a bid to turn the club's fortunes as well as managing to keep midfield general John Leah, top scorer Connolly and striker Matthew Williams on the books despite interest from elsewhere.
And the past fortnight has brought three successive victories, over Gap Connah's Quay and Airbus in the league, and against Pontardawe Town to qualify for the Welsh Cup quarter-finals.
Now the transfer window has closed, Strong sees the weeks ahead as a chance for a fresh start and an opportunity to make progress.
"There have been so many negative things said and written about the club lately - it's time now to look forward," said Rhyl's player-boss.
"I don't want to get into what's been going on off the field, my job is to run the football side of things. We can't do anything about the players who have left, so let's concentrate on who we've got here now and progress together."
Rhyl was the most active Welsh Premier club in the window with goalkeeper Jack Cudworth, strikers Rob Turner and Lee Ebden, winger Joe Dixon and defenders Andrew Pearson, Andy Owens and Russell Courtney joining, as well as ex-Oldham Athletic utility man Phil Ojapah coming in on loan.
None of the above, with the exception of Cudworth and Turner, are known quantities and certainly have plenty to prove, but Strong is full of belief that they can benefit the Lilies.
"Rob Turner is only 20 and once he gets fully match-fit he'll be a great asset to us. Andy Pearson and Andy Owens join us from Altrincham; they are full of promise and full of hunger and are very keen to develop successful football careers so I hope we can help them on their way.
"Russell Courtney has been at Unibond League side Salford City and comes highly recommended, while Phil Ojapah is also only 20 and was considered good enough to be given a professional contract by Oldham last year.
"These are all hungry young players who are coming to Rhyl to make an impression which is what we need.
"I'd also like to thank all the players who have chosen to stay with us. They've shown great loyalty and I'm grateful to them."
Rhyl are fortunate in that Strong made many contacts in the game during his long professional career and has been able to tap into many Football League clubs as a result.
"We're third in the league, are in the League Cup final and the quarter-finals of the Welsh Cup. There's plenty to smile about and be optimistic about," added the boss.
"I can assure the fans the players will be doing everything they can to make the rest of the season a success."