AFTER a long association with Barry Town FC, chairman, Mrs.Paula O'Halloran, has put the club up for sale. The sale will be handled in the Cardff office of Deloitte & Touche.
But club officials have been quick to reassure playesr and supporters that the sale will not affect the standing of the club - the only professional outfir in the League of Wales.
"Everything will remain as normal and the club will stay professional," said general secretary, Chris Aust.
With retirement approaching, Mrs.O'Halloran, who has presided over the club's most successful period in the history of Barry Town, feels that if the club is to advance any further, especially in Europe, then a fresh approach is needed.
"It has been a difficult decision for her, one which she has been considering for several months. She loves Barry Town and has been involved since her husband, Neil, started playing for the club 40 years ago," continued Mr.Aust, adding "she now feels that it's time for someone else to take the club forward and that now is the time to bow out gracefully, while the club is at the top."
Oxystructural (Newport) Ltd owns 90 per cent of Barry Town shares. Mrs O'Halloran is the majority shareholder of Oxystructural.
While the club do not own Jenner Park, they own what is regarded as a thriving social club as well as employing 18 staff, the majority of whom are the players. Last year, the club recorded a turnover of �650,000.
Under Mrs.O'Halloran's chairmanship the club has emerged as the most successful in Wales, winning four successive league titles. There have also been victories in the Welsh Cup and the Gilbert League Cup.
They have qualified for Europe for the last three seasons, which has given the club a strong European profile. Next season, following changes by UEFA, the club will be seeded, which means that they will avoid the likes of Dynamo Kiev and opens up the possibility of the club having a run in Europe similar to their UEFA Cup run of 1996-97 when they beat teams from Lithuania (sic, Latvia) and Hungary, getting knocked out in the first round proper by Aberdeen.
John Antoniazzi at Deloitte & Touche said that while Paula O'Halloran's departure had been a significant factor, it was felt by Oxystructural that a new owner should be sought to take the club to the next level of European competition.
"While some notable successes have been achieved in recent years, it was felt by the directors that they would be unable to take the club further in Europe," said Mr.Antoniazzi. "Obviously, the decision has not been taken lightly, Barry Town has dominated Welsh domestic football for some time and with the right backing it is ideally placed to establish itself on the European scene.
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This page edited by the Yellow Dragon, 1999.
This article first published in the Barry Gem, 01.04.1999.
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