Winding-up threat (From Barry And District News)

Winding-up threat

by PETER SHUTTLEWORTH

NEWPORT COUNTY say that Barry Town owe them £10,000 and are threatening to issue a winding-up order against the Dragons this week.

And former Town player Mike Flynn revealed that the club still owe him £2,000 despite the fact that he moved to Wigan Athletic five months ago, sparking major fears that the cash crisis in Welsh football is deepening.

Newport-born Flynn, who branded Barry as "unprofessional" in their dealing of the whole situation, is still waiting for his P45 tax form from the Welsh double-winners which means he has been emergency taxed since he joined Second Division Wigan in June.

Barry, the Welsh Premier League's flagship team, still owe Newport County £10,000 as the Exiles added a sell-on clause into a deal when they transferred Flynn to the Jenner Park club.

County have threatened legal action against the Dragons in an attempt to get their cash - and the Dr Martens Premier League outfit, whose lawyers served Barry with a Statutory Demand on October 31, insist they will issue a winding-up order tomorrow (Friday) if Town don't stump up.

Flynn originally played for County but joined Barry in November 2000 on a free transfer, but the Exiles added a sell-on clause in the deal which would entitle them to 40% or £10,000, whichever was greater, to any subsequent transfer.

Now, five months after the 21-year-old's £15,000 move to the JJB Stadium, Wales's top club side still haven't paid County.

Flynn fumed: "Barry still owe me £2,000 in wages and bonuses and they haven't sent me my P45 so I have been getting emergency taxed ever since I joined Wigan.

"That is causing me immense difficulty because I'm trying to buy a house in the town but I don't actually know how much I will exactly take home because of the emergency tax.

"I have been renting a house since I joined Wigan but now I want to buy.

Wigan, on my behalf, have sent numerous letters to Barry, the Welsh FA and the Football League but the club haven't done anything.

"Barry have handled this situation very unprofessionally which is very disappointing for me because I loved my time at Jenner Park."

However, Barry chairman Kevin Green, who vowed both parties would get their cash, blamed the delay on the starvation of funds from the Football Association of Wales to Welsh Premier League clubs.

A BBC Wales documentary last week accused the FAW of being an inept governing body which keeps money matters virtually secret from Welsh clubs desperate for finances.

Green blasted: "That said it all."

The programme claimed the FAW has invested £2.5 million in the stock market, having £1.8 million earning interest in the bank and also withholding a £130,000 UEFA grant from the 18 Welsh Premier clubs - accusations the FAW refute.

Green slammed: "We have a financial problem as has every club in the country, apart from the top English Premiership clubs.

We are being starved of funds at the top level, but needless to say this situation with Newport County and Mike Flynn will be resolved soon."

FAW chief and Welsh Premier League secretary John Deakin hit-back at rumblings of a cash crisis in Welsh football, snapping: "We can't give clubs money we haven't got.

We do not owe Barry Town, or any other Welsh Premier League club for that matter, anything.

All the money we have we dish out to our member clubs."

Deakin added: "This current situation is a matter to be resolved between the two clubs but if the FAW had a role to play, it would be in a conciliatory capacity.

Certainly we would look at stepping in to try and prevent Newport from issuing Barry with a winding up order."