Road to recovery (From Barry And District News)

Road to recovery

DR Elizabeth Davies and Dr Richard Stott are well known and respected practitioners though Dr Stott has recently retired after a serious illness.

Now on the road to recovery, he, together will colleague Dr Davies, are putting a plan together to rescue Barry Town AFC.

It may seem strange that they would be instrumental in plotting the survival of the beleaguered soccer club.

The connection is simple, both have been club doctors for several years.

Now after a succession of business minded people have failed to keep the club financially viable, the doctors are working with administrators to see how the club can climb out trouble if at all.

A crucial meeting on September 1 will determine how the club could be structured and how shares would be distributed, providing they are able.

A complicated scenario exists, as some shares and debentures were drawn up and passed on to certain individuals.

The legality and validity of such manoeuvres are questionable but intensifies the real problems.

The club has not registered valid accounts to companies house for at least two years. Questions will be raised but the answers may not be so straightforward.

Dr Davies and Dr Stott are determined though to do what they can to make sure the club if at all possible can survive.

They have been heartened by the players who have stayed and particularly of Jamie Moralee who has said he will stick it out come what may.

Moralee loves the club and the supporters and has played in the Premiership for Crystal Palace but has never had to put up with such indignities as a professional.

Nevertheless he is a rack behind the exhausted manager Kenny Brown.

The other professionals Lee Jarman, Lee Phillips, Richard Kennedy, Tom Ramasut, Nathan Cotterill and Laurence Davies are equally supportive as is new keeper Duncan Roberts.

London based Akinfenwar and Ocquaye have also reaped praise from the doctors for their part.

Dr Liz Davies told the News, "I am eternally grateful to the players and our marvellous supporters who got behind the lads last Friday.

We are not in anyway in a better position then last week but we have had some encouragement.

"We have a rented house for the players in town and we received a letter from the next door neighbours praising the players who lived in the house.

People have contributed money to the club's survival and some creditors have graciously cancelled their outstanding invoices.

We are talking to some local business who have expressed an interest in being involved.

The core of the whole matter though is all dependant on September 1 and what develops.

We are living on a day to day, week to week existence and we intend to play Connah's Quay this Saturday."

People of Barry can contribute financially by sending cheques or postal orders to Barry Town Supporters Club, c/o Tim Johnson, Celtic View, Harbour Road, Barry. A safeguard is that should Barry Town AFC not survive, all monies would be returned.

People of Barry can act now and save their football team from collapsing and at least turn up on Saturday to cheer the lads on against Connah's Quay at 2.30pm.

The players have done a phenomenal job and now need to know that the general public are behind them besides the dedicated supporters.

Dr Elizabeth Davies is from North Wales and Dr Richard Stott is an Englishman although they insist they feel true Barrians.

If they can strive for Barry's survival, then surely Barrians born and bred could pull together in this crucial time to see Barry Town AFC who have played a part of the Town's history and heritage, make it through.

Barry has lost Bindles, the Knap Lido and its holiday camp.

Is it too much to ask local people to rally around at a time of a real crisis?

Barry Town AFC after many years of bickering with their landlords, Vale of Glamorgan Council have now drawn up an agreement lease over five years to the satisfaction of both parties.

The local council are to be congratulated on having faith in the people now desperately keeping the club afloat by negotiating the lease.