CWMBRAN Town may have to search for a new manager if a mystery illness picked up by Tony Willcox forces doctors to advise him to scale down his commitment to the Welsh Premier club.

The 46-year-old former Ton Pentre player and Barry Town manager is to undergo further tests on Monday, after which the results will determine if hugely-popular Willcox can resume his Cwmbran managerial career which started in November 1991.

Willcox missed last night's away Gwent Senior Cup tie against Welsh League Division Three outfit Tillery at Abertillery Park, where club president and chairman John Colley asked coach Roger Gibbins to take over all first-team duties.

Gibbins agreed and will start with Saturday's home Welsh Premier game against high-flying Bangor City at Cwmbran Stadium before the team face champions Barry Town at the same venue a week later.

"The news has come as a shock to us all and we are obviously hoping for Tony to make a full recovery. He and I are in constant contact and I've told him his health is the priority now," said Cwmbran-based businessman Colley.

"Whichever way the results go, Tony knows there will always be a position in one capacity or another at Cwmbran Town for him.

"We are all being positive at the moment that Tony will be able to return to run the side. But in the interim period, Roger will step up to take full charge."

Cardiff-based Willcox was appointed as manager by Cwmbran's previous chairman, the late George Thorneycroft, and the club went on to lift the inaugural 1992-1993 League of Wales (now the Welsh Premier) title in his first full season.

Cwmbran then created a piece of footballing history by becoming the first Welsh club to compete in the old-style European Champions' Cup. The Crows eventually lost on the away goals rule to League of Ireland title-holders Cork City, which handed them a plum tie against Turkish champions Galatasaray.

Willcox, a senior housing officer with Cardiff City council, has guided the club to a further four European excursions.

Other highlights have been a full-house 8,148 watching Cwmbran face a Ryan Giggs-led Manchester United and a UEFA Cup tie against Scottish giants Glasgow Celtic in front of 48,251 at Parkhead Stadium.

Willcox has accumulated more league points - 685 in total - than any other manager and his efforts were rewarded five years ago when he picked up a Football Association of Wales recognition award for his services to football in the Principality.