BEN Stait has left Newent Town little more than two months after taking charge at Wildsmith Meadow, with the Daffs now searching for his replacement.

Stait was appointed by the Hellenic League Division One club on June 15 following the departure of Luke Handley and Zaq Hussain at the end of the 2025/26 campaign.

However, his brief spell in Gloucestershire has already ended after he returned to Welsh football to become first-team manager of Cymru South side Caerau Ely.

The Welsh club announced his appointment on Tuesday, August 25, highlighting Stait's extensive coaching and football development background.

Before joining Newent, Stait spent the 2025/26 season as first-team coach at Barry Town United, where the club finished third in the Cymru Premier and won the Nathaniel MG Cup.

He had previously managed Llantwit Major and has worked with the Football Association of Wales since 2017 as a coach educator, delivering courses and mentoring coaches undertaking UEFA licences.

Stait also previously served as a South Wales regional coach and is currently Head of Football at Cardiff and Vale College.

His background also includes four years working full-time in football coaching at the University of South Wales, where he continues to lecture, while he holds an MSc in Advanced Performance Football Coaching.

Caerau Ely said Stait's knowledge of the Welsh football landscape and track record of developing players and coaches made him an "outstanding candidate" to lead the club.

His departure leaves Newent needing another appointment just weeks into the new Hellenic League season.

The Daffs have confirmed they are actively inviting applications for the first-team manager position as they seek a permanent successor.

Newent will now hope to make an appointment capable of providing stability and building on the progress made last season after Stait's unexpectedly short spell at Wildsmith Meadow.