Pressure part of the job for TNS boss Harrison

The New Saints manager Craig Harrison insists he did not feel under pressure despite a poor start to the season.

Saints finished the season 22 points clear at the top of the JD Cymru Premier to claim their 18th Welsh title.

That came after a disappointing European campaign and a heavy home defeat to Briton Ferry Llansawel on the opening day of the league season.

"There's always pressure being TNS manager because you expect to win every single game," Harrison told BBC Sport Wales.

"If you draw a game, it's catastrophe. If you lose a game, it's the end of the world.

"So there's always pressure and it's something I've been involved with for 10 years plus."

Under Harrison, TNS became the first Welsh domestic side to play in the group stages of a European competition in the 2024-25 season.

But earlier this season they lost to North Macedonia's KF Shkendija in the Champions League and Luxembourg's FC Differdange in the Conference League.

TNS chairman Mike Harris described those European defeats as "disappointing" amid speculation over Harrison's position as manager.

"Don't get me wrong, it wasn't a fantastic time and it wasn't particularly comfortable," Harrison reflected.

"But as in pressure, there's pressure every single day from myself to perform.

"I put on myself to win games, the standards that I want, the standards that I set, the standards that I think are acceptable."

Despite indifferent early season form – following on from the early exits in Europe – Harrison's side went on to win 26 of their 32 league games, losing four times and drawing twice.

But the Oswestry-based side were knocked out by Cardiff Met in the third round of the JD Welsh Cup and beaten by Barry Town United in the Nathaniel MG Cup final.

"League-wise we've been as good as any," Harrison added.

"We've ended up winning the league by 22 points, which is massive.

"It was my 10th title so I'm very proud of that and I think the longevity of it is amazing.

"We're disappointed in the cup competitions and we're a little bit disappointed about the European campaign.

"Previously, we'd either won the League Cup or we'd won the Welsh Cup and the year before that, we'd won all three.

"So, that's the standards that are set and we do our best to win every trophy.

"At some point, we're going to be a little bit disappointed because their standards are so high."

With their domestic season completed, Saints players have a month's break before they return to training later in Mayprior to July's Champions League qualifiers.

Harrison is looking to add new faces to the squad over the coming weeks and has already signed Connah's Quay Nomads forward Rhys Hughes.

"Rhys brings creativity, he brings quality and he brings more options at the front end of the pitch," Harrison said of the former Wales Under-21 international.

"Rhys knows the league, played in the league for the last couple of years and he's proven in the league.

"So, we know what we're going to get from Rhys."

And with the Cymru Premier relaunching as a 16-team league next season, Harrison's objectives for TNS are clear.

"Back again trying to win all three competitions - League Cup, Welsh Cup and Welsh Prem," he said.