by Karl Woodward, Chief Soccer Writer
BARRY TOWN Football club has been put up for sale by its' owner, Paula O'Halloran. But fears that the Jenner Park club, flagship of the League of Wales, will close unless a buyer is found were dispelled last night.
"The chairman has put the club on the market because she feels she had done as much as she can," said general manager Chris Aust.
The announcement came in the week in which the Dragons sold striker, Eifion Williams, to Torquay for �70,000, but Aust insisted that the timing was purely coincidental.
"People are looking for ulterior motives but there are none," he said. "Paula has been involved with Barry Town FC for 40 years. She took over as chairman when her husband, Neil O'Halloran, died four years ago."
"She ploughed in a lot of money to make Barry Town a full-time professional club, the best in the Welsh pyramid.
"It doesn't take a genius to work out that League of Wales gates cannot sustain a full-time club.
"If we get a point against Carmarthen Town at Jenner Park on Tuesday night we'll be champions for the fourth year running.
"People expect Barry to win every game. It's headline news when we draw. It's a strain striving to keep the club at the top year in year out.
"Paula has carried the pressure and worry on her shoulders. But now that she has reached retirement age she wants to step down. She is entitled to a break.
"She's been thinking of selling for months. It was a difficult decision because she loves the club so much. It has been her life since Neil started playing for the club.
"Now she feels it's time for someone else to take the club forward.
"She wants to bow out gracefully while the club is at the top and a successful going concern.
"I told the players what was happening last Friday. Obviously it came as a bit of a shock. Contracted players wanted to know about their futures.
"I tried to reassure them by explaining that everything would carry on as normal, that it wouldn't affect them in any shape or form. There is no need for panic. Nobody will be losing out.
"As far as I know, it will continue to be a full-time professional club and is not going to be closed down if a buyer cannot be found.
"Paula wouldn't walk away. Takeovers don't happen overnight, and she is already making plans for the club to compete in the Champions' League again next season.
"We know that we can qualify for Europe every year, which is essential for a full-time club in this league.
"Our task of making progress should be easier next season because I understand we will be seeded.
"But in order for the club to compete at that level we must continue to raise the playing standard by brining in better quality players. One person cannot do that on her own."
Barry Town FC, a private limited company, will command a six-figure asking price.
Although Jenner Park is owned by the Vale of Glamorgan Council, the buildings, including a thriving social club, and the players belong to the holding company.
"The O'Hallorans have done marvellous work for Barry Town over the years, producing players like Mark Ovendale and Eifion Williams," said League of Wales secretary, John Deakin.
"It was inevitably going to come to an end one day. Paula O'Halloran has put an awful lot of her life into the club. It's understandable if she has decided enough is enough."
"If new owners do come in I just hope Barry will continue to flourish. It has done the league proud."
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This page edited by the Yellow Dragon, 1999.
This article first printed in the Western Mail, 29.03.1999.
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