By Oliver Hides

For once, football's barren summer months in Wales offered something other than the usual raft of defeats in European competition.

Sure, the Baltic and Scandinavian hordes enjoyed their customary romp across the country, but this year there was a different story to follow.

A drugs scandal.

Andy Moran's failed drug test has tranished Rhyl's achivements

The Welsh Premier must be growing up, like a fourteen year old with a cigarette, and the league can hold its head up now with the big boys at the back of the bus.

The Andy Moran case was actually among the saddest episodes in the short history of the league.

A competition that once stood for everything that is right about the game and largely eschewed the cynicism and financial vulgarity of football at higher levels, has been tainted.

And the extraordinary achievements of Rhyl last season have been brought into considerable question.

Both club and player claim he imbibed enough nandrolone to put him 55 times over the limit in a milkshake.

That may well be the case, but the fact is that whether Moran took the drug intentionally or not he, and his team, had an unfair advantage for at least part of last season and as a result their triumphs cannot be considered equally with those of Barry Town in previous seasons.

So the first hope for the new season is that whoever wins the league does so cleanly.

Total Network Solutions are sure to be up there again, even more determined to right the wrongs of last season's run in.

Ken McKenna has recruited well in John Lawless and in all likelihood Lee Spike from Aberystwyth.

It will be interesting to see how strong Rhyl's challenge will be without the superhuman goalscorer Moran for the first six months of the season.

A fit again Owain Tudur Jones could inspire Bangor

Peter Smith looks a decent replacement, while there's more to come from Lee Hunt - both of whom might have been in Bangor City colours this season.

The Citizens would certainly have looked a better prospect for honours with them in the squad and their fate could depend on the performances of Les Davies and especially Owain Tudur Jones.

Aberystwyth's spell in the upper reaches of the league could well be over. The end of the Gary Finley era could be the end of big spending and big names, with a return to local players meaning the club will have to adjust expectations.

Haverfordwest are going the other way. The New Bridge Meadow ambition is growing and is matched by the strength of the squad, expect another top four finish from Deryn Brace's men this season.

Caernarfon too could benefit from the lessons learned in the Racecourse boot room.

Like Brace, Wayne Phillips will hope to impart some of the wisdom gained as a Wrexham player under Bryan Flynn on his players - although Lee Jones, Martyn Chalk, Steve Watkin and David Walsh will have heard it all before.

Expect a good season from Caernarfon, and better than usual from Welshpool where new manager Tomi Morgan will shake things up.

Eddie May brings a wealth of managerial expreience to Llanelli

There are changes too at Carmarthen where Mark Jones has recruited heavily from former club Port Talbot and should ensure happier times at Richmond Park, although what becomes of his former charges remains to be seen.

Both they, and steel town neighbours Afan Lido could face a bottom half struggle.

The same goes for Newi Cefn Druids and Caersws, while Porthmadog will need the same sort of start as they enjoyed last season if they are to be looking towards the top half of the table.

Both Newtown and Cwmbran ought to be thinking about Europe, while the new boys should think no further than survival.

Eddie May of course will have other ideas at Llanelli and they will be better equipped to deal with the Welsh Premier League than Airbus UK who look the favourites for the drop.

Opening fixtures in Vauxhall MasterFit Retailers Welsh Premier League (Saturday, 14 August):

Bangor City v Llanelli
Connah's Quay Nomads v Carmarthen Town
Caernarfon Town v Cwmbran Town
Haverfordwest County v Rhyl
Porthmadog v Welshpool
Port Talbot Town v Aberystwyth Town
Newi Cefn Druids v Caersws
Newtown v Airbus UK
TNS v Afan Lido