RUTHIN Town are facing a fight to keep some of their top players after their exciting Welsh Cup adventure and TV appearance.

Town's thrilling JD Welsh Cup fourth round clash with top flight Llandudno had football fans across the nation on the edge of their seats when it was screened live on S4C's Sgorio show.

A number of Welsh Premier League clubs have been in contact with the club with a view to talking to some of their players.

Club secretary Bryn Jones said: “It’s clear that Welsh Premier League clubs keep an eye on what’s going on.

"Other big clubs like Airbus were after players such as Llyr Morris and Gresford enquired about Jordan MacCarter and Ryan Goldston before Christmas.

"There’s no doubt that there has been an increase in interest since the Welsh Cup.”

The club can confirm that before the end of the January deadline, Welsh Premier club Prestatyn expressed an interest in talking to Gwion Owen, while Llandudno themselves asked about Llyr Morris.

However, the Ruthin club is adamant that these players are going nowhere.

The age of the squad is mainly under 25, with two or three experienced players.

The average age is 24, with three other promising teenagers coming through in the form of Will Owen, Matthew Williams and Isaac Rasell–Edwards.

Ruthin manager Chris Williams said: “I’ve spoken to all the lads concerned and they want to stay.

"This is a good group of players and if they stick together over the next couple of years, they could do something as they gain experience.

"I said at the end of the Llandudno game that it should be the beginning and not the end.

"We want to be a force in this league and win things.

"There is a lot of talk about us producing local lads, but that shouldn’t be an end in itself - we should be looking to win trophies.

"I want to build over the summer, keep the squad together and continue to improve.”

The club is aware that players like captain Ilan Hughes, who produced a supporters' man of the match performance against Llandudno, and Llyr Morris, the league’s top goalscorer, are important for the future of the club and they are delighted that such players are committed to Ruthin for the foreseeable future.

Chairman Paddy Carney said: “We are extremely grateful to all of our players for sticking with us.

"We have a good young squad, a good young manager and a good, if not so young, team in the background.

"We like to think we are going places and we will do everything we can to support the squad.”