“Sorry mate, between half term, Bank Holiday, the Champions League final and being that I’m from Carmarthen, I’ve been on the sauce a couple of days. I’m planning on stopping tomorrow so give me a bell then.”

It didn’t take me long to realise that Haverfordwest County boss Sean Cresser isn’t one to sugar coat things.

As the opening statement suggests, pinning him down for an interview wasn’t entirely straight forward. But then again, Cresser is a busy man. Barely did he have time to reflect on his side’s creditable second place finish in the Welsh League Division One, before events at the club were gathering pace again.

The much talked about signing of Lee Trundle, the departure of trusted club physio Ryan Evans, finalising pre-season training – there really is no such thing as an off-season in football anymore.

Cresser has served at the Bridge Meadow for six seasons now - four as assistant manager before taking joint-charge with Chris O’Sullivan for the 2016/17 campaign.

But the year just gone represented Cresser’s first in sole charge, with Tim Hicks also on board assistant player-coach. Helping as ever has been Micky Ellis, now part of the furniture of the club, and who Cresser candidly admits has “lived through a few managers here and will live through me too.”

And what of the last two years? A period where the Bluebirds were supposedly rebuilding after relegation from the Welsh Premier League.

“We’ve over achieved,” said Cresser.

“When me and Sully took charge, the club made a conscious decision to use his connections and rebuild again with youngsters and local players.

“We put our faith in youth - although not everyone was wet behind the ears, we’ve had plenty of experienced heads in there too.

“That first season we came fourth and, in the end, it was almost a disappointment. We went to Barry late in the season still in the title race and lost a ‘six pointer’ – and after that the wheels came off a bit.”

Work commitments meant that O’Sullivan then promptly returned to Pembrokeshire football with Goodwick United, and some important players went with him. 

But Cresser’s men continued to progress. After leading the table for much of the early going, they went to eventual champions Llanelli Town on March 27th and were beaten 2-0, a result which ultimately ended their title hopes. However, a final day win at Caerau Ely still sealed a top two finish – an outcome which Cresser admits brought about both mixed emotions and sleepless nights.

“Because of losing a few boys in the summer and the squad we had, there wasn’t as much expectation on us this year. But then about 20 games in we were top.”

“I’ve spent a lot of time analysing things and when you look back at the sticky patch we had (the Bluebirds lost three on the bounce in February), things did go against us.

“We lost Sam Rodon (broken foot) and soon after Kristian Speake as well who had both been big players for us. Then Joe Leahy went back to Merlins Bridge and suddenly the spine of our team was gone – and when that happens you are bound to suffer.

“So, with that in mind I’m very pleased with second. In the end I think the difference between us and Llanelli was the experience they had. In that respect we were Worlds apart.”

Regardless, the efforts of Haverfordwest won widespread praise in national media circles.

But then again, the Bluebirds have rarely had problems impressing those further afield. Captivating supporters closer to home however, has been an uphill task.

Accusations of ignoring local talent can no longer be banded about. A large proportion of the squad are Pembrokeshire based or have come up through the club’s Academy system. And yet, attendance numbers at home games remain meagre.

That may change with the arrival of Trundle, but one thing that won’t alter is Cresser’s principled argument that the club’s youth players should be given a chance.

After all, he should know.

“I joined Carmarthen Town as a player at 11 and was there for over 10 years,” he said.

“But I only ended up playing two or three first team games. I have so much respect for the club and later spent ten years there as Academy coach but that experience as a player sits with me.

“I guess historically Haverfordwest have looked up the line for players as well and I understand sometimes you have to go further than your own doorstep. But I’m keen to bring local and young players through.

“If an Academy boy is good enough then he should be given a chance and I want to flip my own story on its head.”

And come the first Wednesday in July, when the Bluebirds return to training, youngsters will have a new but familiar face to learn from.

The signing of Trundle has raised much excitement in local circles on social media, but Cresser insists the capture is about more than shirt sales or bums on seats.

“It obviously makes commercial sense, but we knew it had to fit in with the football side of things as well.

“With his experience and the levels he’s played at, he’s a different beast to what we’ve signed before. And he’s excited about coming here and helping the young players.

“From my point of view it makes perfect sense.”

But with a new signing of that ilk, brings new expectations.

Add the goals of the former Swansea City man to a side that already finished second this season – and the aim for the next becomes obvious, doesn’t it?

Not necessarily, according to the boss.

“When you sign a flagship player it’s inevitable people will get carried away – but let’s remember most of our squad is still very young.

“It won’t be easy and other clubs are spending fortunes. We will lose players as well.”

Indeed, in-between our conversation and this article going live, both Gregg Walters and Declan Carroll have left for Carmarthen.

“You do need the rub of the green but we will work hard and be competitive – we can’t do more than that.

“We will aim for top four and if it goes well then we re-address as we go along.

“If we are bottom two then I won’t have to worry about it because I’ll be out the door and looking for a new job.”

It seems Cresser is nothing if not realistic. But nor is he about to let standards at the club drop anytime soon.

And despite a playing and coaching career that has seen him grace clubs like Milford United (when Welsh league), Ammanford, and Newcastle Emlyn, not to mention the Old Gold and Bluebirds, the desire and fervor that goes into his work at The Meadow is more than apparent.

Haverfordwest are in good shape with him at the helm, even if he is already planning for life after football, whenever that may be.

“One day I’ll escape and be on the golf course,” he says half-jokingly.

“But until then there’s work to do.”