A WREXHAM Glyndwr University lecturer from Denbighshire is set to once again embark on a European footballing adventure this summer.

Alongside his role as Lecturer in Football, Coaching and Performance Specialist at the university, Chris Hughes doubles up as manager of Powys-based Newtown AFC, in the JD Cymru Premier.

Newtown recently gained qualification to the Europa Conference League, an inaugural UEFA competition launching this summer, after a thrilling 5-3 play-off final win at Caernarfon Town.

It is the second time Hughes has guided the Robins into a European competition since taking charge in 2013, having previously experienced the Europa League qualifying stages in 2015, beating Maltese side Valletta before facing Danish giants FCCopenhagen.

Hughes says he is relishing the opportunity of another European adventure with the potential of facing clubs form Latvia, San Marino and more.

He said: “We’ve got a tight turnaround. The draw is on June 15 so just under two weeks away and the first game will be on July 8 so we’ve got a lot of things to sort out – obviously player medicals, Covid tests, some friendly games to prepare. It’s been a busy few days.

“Up until now it was a case of just focusing on Caernarfon and going from there. We were second from bottom in the table pre-lockdown, so first and foremost the aim when we returned from lockdown in March was to get out of the bottom two.

“We were still nine points adrift of the play-off place after 22 games so that’s a lot of ground to make up, a nine point gap over 10 games, but we made it up quite quickly over Haverfordwest and it was just a case of maintaining that.”