Save us! (From Barry And District News)

Save us!

Barry Town football club have made a desperate plea for cash, in a bid to save the club from extinction.

Just a few short months ago the team celebrated their wonderful treble double.

But the Dragon's roar is growing ever faint under an avalanche of financial troubles.

The club are hundreds of thousands of pounds in debt, and some players have not been paid for two months.

There are even doubts as to whether club manager Kenny Brown will be able to raise a team for their first game of the season on Friday.

Brown was forced to let nine players go after his side's exit from the Champions League three weeks ago.

Now, short of players, the side risks being expelled from the JT Hughes Mitsubishi Premier League if they do not fulfil their opening fixture against Aberystwyth.

Since the recent departure of John Fashanu and Kevin Green, Dr Liz Davies and Dr Richard Stott have been left holding the reins.

At a meeting on Sunday, August 10, Dr Davies said: "We would welcome some financial clout from an interested businessman, but, regardless, we will pull out all the stops, although I can make no promises.

"If people or local businesses would like to offer money to the club, we would welcome it."

Dr Davies said she could understand people's reluctance to give money to an uncertain venture, but added: "Because of the club's precarious position, we would like any cheques paid into the Supporters Club bank account.

"Our promise is that all money would be documented and held for 30 days.

If we are unable to save the club, all monies would be returned."

IF ever a football team needed the full support of their fans it's now.

Drs Davies and Stott have given 21 days notice of a shareholder meeting for September 1. Only then, they say, will the club know if it can move forward.

In the meantime Kenny Brown has vowed to "beg, borrow and steal" to make sure he can begin the defence of their Welsh Premier Crown this Friday.

He will be relying on a minimum of eight players on a non-contract basis.

"The situation is so bad at the moment that all we are concerned about is whether we are able to fulfil one fixture," he said.

"We're going to have to survive game by game but we're close to the point of asking ourselves "How long can we carry on like this?"

That's why we are urging our readers and the supporters of Barry Town to get right behind the Dragons in their hour of need.

It would be a devastating loss to the town if the club went out of business, especially in light of their wonderful achievements over the last few years.

If you're free on Friday night please go to Jenner Park and support the boys.

We sincerely hope the club can find a way out of their awful financial problems.