Gwalia United 'ambition' key for ex-Cardiff chief Bevan

Gwalia United finished eighth during the 2023-24 National League Southern Premier Division season

Trystan Bevan says Gwalia United's ambition was key to his decision to become the club's new general manager of performance.

A former head of performance at Cardiff Blues and Wasps, Bevan is tasked with helping the third tier outfit achieve their aim of reaching the Women's Super League (WSL).

And Bevan hopes the club, formerly known as Cardiff City Ladies, can play a pivotal role in growing women's football across Wales.

“The one word I believe could summarise Gwalia is ambition," he told Dros Frecwast.

"When I started speaking with Julian [Jenkins, club co-owner] at the start of the year, he made it clear he knows where we are, but also we know where we want to go."

He added: "We also have to look at the landscape in Wales at the moment.

"Women’s sport is growing at a rate that’s quite significant, so it’s very exciting for me to be in the middle of it."

The arrival of Bevan represents another significant appointment for the Welsh side - who have been run by a consortium including Australia-based Damien Singh and Welsh businessman Julian Jenkins since a club takeover in September 2023.

But they have won just one of their opening five matches of the 2024-25 National League Southern Premier Division season, losing to Billericay Town, Oxford United and Exeter City.

And Bevan accepts the club will need to grow organically given the level of competition they face to gain promotion into the Championship.

“It’s a significant jump, and I believe one of the things that Damien Singh and Julian Jenkins, that used to work with Cardiff City’s men’s team, they realise that we have to grow the team organically and with purpose," added Bevan.

"Spending money to succeed doesn’t work 90 per cent of the time, and we’re seeing that with Man City at the moment with all the charges put against them.

"The two objectives are to succeed in reaching the WSL, and then to promote and encourage sports to women in Wales.”

Gwalia return to action against Ipswich Town on Saturday, 21 September (14:00 BST).

Discussing Bevan's arrival to the club, co-owner Singh said: “Trystan has already made a huge impact since joining us, bringing a level of professionalism that has pushed us forward both on and off the field.

"His full-time role is a commitment from us as owners to keep moving this club in the right direction."