Former Wales defender Jazz Richards has signed for Welsh Cymru Premier club Haverfordwest County. The former Swansea City and Cardiff City full-back became a free agent when he was released by the Bluebirds last summer. He looked close to signing for their Championship rivals Sheffield Wednesday last month, but the Owls eventually opted not to pursue a deal.

Welsh international Angharad James is heading to America and the National Women’s Soccer League after signing for North Carolina Courage. The 26-year-old, who has previously stated her desire to play her club football in the States, will join up with the 2018 and 2019 champions in time for the new season in May. Her deal will initially run for one year, with an option of a second year tagged on and she will contine to be free to play for Wales.

Daniel James is back, with goals in Europe and in the Premier League. That’s good news for Wales, says Fraser Watson, where the expectations have always been more realistic and the patience in greater supply than at Old Trafford. For Welsh football fans, it was a heartening weekend. A player potentially pivotal to his nation this summer backing up a goalscoring display in Europe – and in doing so, showing the kind of sharpness and threat we had become accustomed too.

Figures from across Welsh football have been paying tribute to former Wales goalkeeper Dai Davies, who had died at the age of 72. The former Everton, Wrexham, Swansea City and Tranmere keeper was diagnoised with terminal pancreatic cancer last year, and was treated at the Royal Hospital in Liverpool before being moved to the Nightingale Hospice in Wrexham. Once Wales’ most-capped keeper, Davies made 52 appearances for his country before going on to run a health clinic and enjoying a long and successful career as a pundit, particularly in Welsh language broadcasting.

Wales’ second most capped footballer Loren Dykes has announced her retirement from playing. Dykes – who brought her Women’s Super League career to an end last year – has been playing for Cardiff City Ladies in the English FA Women’s National league South. But the 33-year-old – who won 105 caps – has opted to concentrate solely on coaching in her roles with both Bristol City and the Wales U15s.

Adam Jones believes Wayne Pivac is suffering from Alex Ferguson syndrome – but has backed the Wales coach to finally step out of the shadow of Warren Gatland in this Six Nations. The former Wales and British & Irish Lions prop accepts the pressure is on Pivac as Wales prepare to host Ireland in their tournament opener on Sunday. Pivac needs victories and quickly if he is to hang on to his job. He experimented with youth in last year’s Autumn Nations Cup, but the results didn’t follow. The 2021 Six Nations will be his acid test.

For over decade, Ashley Williams was the rock in front of the Red Wall. His announcement that at 36 he had opted to retire from playing was no surprise to Fraser Watson, but what is are those who still doubt his place in football history. For the bravest of warriors, it was the meekest of departures. After a career which yielded more than 700 club appearances and 86 international caps – the man whose name was built upon ferociously guarding the front door for both Swansea City and Wales, finished yesterday with him quietly slipping out the back.

Former Wales and Swansea captain Ashley Williams has announced his retirement from football. The 36-year-old defender confirmed the news that his career, which saw him play across all levels of English football, has now come to an end. Williams made 86 international appearances which included captaining Wales to the semi-finals of Euro 2016 where they were beaten by the eventual winners of the competition, Portugal.

The delayed European Championship finals start in 141 days and in 142 Wales play Switzerland. Not long, then, for Gareth Bale to get into some kind of form at Tottenham. Except, argues Fraser Watson, maybe it’s not long enough. Maybe, the whole nation needs to be realistic about the likely impact of the frustrated captain. It was the morning after the night before, and Gareth Bale was getting positive headlines. The minnows of Marine had succumbed to the might of Spurs – despite the inevitable lopsided scoreline being somewhat tempered by a resilient second-half display from the Northern Premier League side.

Jayne Ludlow is heading towards a new role with FIFA after ending her spell as manager of Wales. The Football Association of Wales has announced Ludlow has stepped down by “mutual consent” after six years in charge of the national women’s team. Ludlow had been at the helm since October 2014 and became the first manager to lead the side for more than 50 games.

The third round of the FA Cup can relied upon for jogging a few memories. So, it was comforting to see a familiar face in charge of Aston Villa the other night, a Welsh coach who Fraser Watson argues could still be destined for more regular appearances in the spotlight. Who is Mark Delaney? If you’ve followed Welsh football, or indeed, Aston Villa in the 21st century, it’s not a question that prior to last week, you would have needed to ask. Having captained his country and made 158 Premier League appearances, with an FA Cup final thrown in to boot, a succession of knee injuries curtailed his playing days aged just 31. Coaching badges followed, and his work in developing the club’s youngsters since 2007 has been rightly lauded by those within Villa Park.

Swansea City have already lost two key players in this transfer window with loanees Morgan Gibbs-White and Kasey Palmer moving back to their parent clubs. But the major fear for many Swans fans is that Connor Roberts could be the latest to be sold, just at the point where he has become a huge influence, as Jack Hammet argues. Transfer windows are always a torrid time for Swansea City fans. Over the last few years, the supporters have seen the squad decimated by their board, who have often cashed in and instead of reinvesting in the squad, have instead relied heavily on the skills and contact books of their managers.