In the summer of 1927, Hayes moved to England to join Barnsley, but he never made a senior appearance for the club.
He transferred to Third Division North side Nelson in March 1928, one of several new signings by the club as they strove to avoid finishing bottom of the league.
Hayes made his Nelson debut on 17 March 1928 in the 5–4 victory away at Hartlepools United.
Hayes made a total of nine league appearances for Nelson, scoring five goals, but was released by the club at the end of the 1927–28 season.
This biographical article related to association football in Wales, about a forward, is a stub.