On The Brink

Barry Town were once the biggest Welsh football side that played domestically in Wales, were a senior team for 91 years, won countless competitions, and their greatest exploit, beating FC Porto in the Champions League.

How ironic, that only years after that momentus occasion FC Porto are European Champions League Champions, while Barry Town ply their trade as an amateur club in Division One of the Motaquote Insurance Welsh League who have been evicted from their spiritual home.

The once mighty Town are currently groundsharing with Treforest on the outskirts of Cardiff, an arrangement agreed by the league this year, but future agreement is not guaranteed leaving the club in uncertainty.

Vale of Glamorgan county council are now beginning proceedings to permanently remove the club from Jenner Park, and have already begun advertising for a new 'primary user' for the ground.

Barry Town's problem stems from the rent they owe and have to pay for use of Jenner Park. The council say they are owed £30,000 in back rent for use of the facilities, and are demanding £42,000 per year for the playing surfaces and stands - a figure that an amateur club would do well to finance.

Sadly for Barry Town, it seems likely they will fail to return to Jenner Park, and if they want to continue as a club in the league below the Welsh Premier League in south Wales, must find a new home that satisfies the rules of the league.

While owner and Chairman of Barry Town, Stuart Lovering, cannot afford to pay the demaded back rent and future payments, it is believed that the town's rugby team may use the facilities if the venture is feasable, however, should the council evict the football club they may develop the site for the benefit of the Vale, which is short of a stadium capable of being used for more than just football games.

It may be more beneficial for the council and the local people if something is developed for the future, something undoubtedly, the council would consider as they are not restricted in what they could do with the site.

Mr Lovering has apparantly offered £250 per match to allow his side to remain at Jenner Park, however, it is believed no formal offer has been made through respective solicitors as regards the matter.

In their glory days Barry Town won seven championships since 1993, six Welsh Cups, the FAW Trophy, the FAW Cup, five League Cups and featured in the Champions League and UEFA Cup in most years as the club sunk into financial ruin through the demands of aiming for success.

Mr Lovering was to be Barry's knight in shining armour, their Roman Abramovich to transform the club, however, Mr Lovering soon lost the support of the fans, even becoming somewhat of a hate figure, seen throughout the English pyramid with clubs such as Luton, Wrexham, Brighton among others.

As the debt mounted the former Welsh Premier champions lost manager Kenny Brown and a very successful side, who were full time, leaving a team of second string players playing in a side which had been stripped of its Premier League status.

At the hands of Mr Lovering, any dreams of Barry fans of a swift return to the Welsh Premier League were short lived as he took the decision to remove the entire playing budget and reduce the club to amateur status, further angering fans and not winning the barrister-cum-property developer many fans on-side as the club continue to freefall.

Sadly, the actions of Mr Lovering, may be the death of Barry Town, a potentially great loss to Welsh domestic football.