Frustrated Fash Threatens Dragons Departure

Barry Town have been rocked by the news club chairman, John Fashanu is on the verge of quitting the club over a dispute with the local council

Fashanu (left) told BBC Sport "I'm questioning whether I made the right decision becoming Barry chairman some seven months ago." The row has stemmed from a row with the Vale of Glamorgan, whom Fashanu claims are "asking a ridiculous amount of money for the use of Jenner Park."

The dispute has also raised doubts about whether Jenner Park will be used for the Dragons Champions League home leg with FK Vardar on July 23rd. "We're having to pay the best part of £3,000 to stage our Champions League match at Jenner Park", said Fashanu "Until I've heard from my financial director and my manager Kenny Brown, I'm not confident at all the match will be played there."

However the Vale of Glamorgan council claim that they "are keen to reach an amicable agreement" with the Welsh Premier champions. A spokeswoman said "Barry were offered terms of lease in November 2002, but despite protracted negotiations agreement has not been reached" Fashanu has ambitions to buy Jenner Park in order to further develop the stadium and to make the club self-sufficient. 

Fashanu believes that without his financial support, Barry would no longer exist. "My consortium has put in well over £250,000 of our own money into the club" he said, "And without that the club would be dead now - there's no two ways about that. We're continuing to pay off debts and creditors, and we'll keep doing it because we believe in what we're trying to achieve at Barry Town. But the dispute with the lease is embarrassing and disappointing. It makes people want to walk away."

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