CONNAH’S QUAY NOMADS’ Cymru Premier title bid hangs in the balance - but that hasn’t blunted their competitive spirit.

Just ask 38-year-old George Horan, who is determined to extend his playing career beyond the current campaign, which has been suspended until at least April 30 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Nomads are currently four points clear of The New Saints at the top of the table with six games of the season left - and Horan hopes that the campaign is able to finish.

“From a football point of view, you’d want all leagues to finish,” said Horan, who joked: “There’s mixed feelings though because we are four points clear at the top and the ball is in our court, but I’m an Everton fan and I don’t want Liverpool to win the league!

“But seriously, there is a need to finish the season though with Champions League and Europa League implications.”

Nomads have a grip on a first ever top-flight title, but Horan isn’t getting carried away.

The experienced defender continued: “Coming into the split I thought the early draws might have killed us, but they haven’t.

“There are still six games to play and hopefully we can get them played.”

Regardless of when - or if - the 2019/20 campaign finishes, Horan is eager to continue playing the game he loves.

“When you reach 35 you always think it’s your last year,” said former Chester captain Horan.

“But then there have been some big games like Kilmarnock in Europe and the Scottish Challenge Cup run last season.

“I class every year as my last year, but we’ve got a training regime from the club and I’m still doing alright, I’m middle of the road in terms of the table.

“I’ve got no plans to retire next year. Don’t get me wrong, it gets harder as you get older, but I still enjoying playing and keeping fit.

“I’m a competitive person in whatever I do, which is important, and I will still be playing next year.

“Every year I play I class it as a bonus, but it’s great to still be challenging for stuff as there is nothing worse than having nothing to play for towards the end of the season.”

Horan was named February’s Cymru Premier player of the month, earning the praise of boss Andy Morrison, who declared: “For me, this has been his best season and I expect him to make it five consecutive nominations in the Team of the Season.”

“I thought it was a wind up when it was put on the group chat,” said Horan. “Unless you see something for yourself you are always wary that it’s a wind up, but it was a good surprise.

“As a team we had a good run of clean sheets, only conceding one in eight games, and it’s always a team effort. We’ve been good defensively since Andy has come in. The plan was always to keep a clean sheet and grab a goal at the other end. We are scoring more than one now as well.”

Horan also believes it would be a “disaster” for Rhyl to go out of business.

Horan spent five seasons with the Lilywhites, helping them lift the Cymru Premier title in 2008/09.

“It’s a real shame,” said Horan of Rhyl’s current predicament, which has left the club needing to find around £175,000 to avoid liquidation.

“When I was there they were one of the biggest teams in the league.

“For them to fold it would be a disaster.”

Reflecting on his time there, Horan added: “Even when we won the league there was talk about the budget being reduced and they’ve obviously been relegated since.

“A club of that size and stature is important to Welsh football.”

Nomads have played all but one of their six Europa League home matches at Belle Vue, which is proving a financial burden to Rhyl.

“It’s one of the better grounds,” said Horan. “It’s a proper non league ground with a very good atmosphere.”