Top North Wales football club braced for sweeping cuts after bombshell news
A Welsh Premier League football team is braced to make sweeping financial cuts to balance the books. Bala Town are currently looking for a new manager after the shock resignation of Colin Caton this week.
In a club statement, the Lakesiders said the resignation followed a 'hugely difficult and challenging 12 months' which had left their long-serving manager 'facing an almost impossible task".
Club secretary Ruth Crump told BBC Radio Cymru's Ar y Marc that Bala are now assessing all aspects of their expenditure amid ongoing financial turmoil at the Gwynedd outfit. This could result in cuts of up to 30% to ensure stability.
She said: 'We're looking into everything at the club in terms of our spending, facilities, training, we're looking at cuts everywhere. We're looking at between 20% and 30% (in cuts).'
Following the manager's departure on Tuesday, June 3, the club rapidly launched a hunt for his successor. Candidates are being sought with a 'proven experience as a football manager or head coach at a professional or semi-professional level'.
In a statement, Bala Town said: 'The issues which we as a small club within the JD Cymru Premier League have been widely discussed but there has been no assistance or resolution regarding the concerns raised.
'The challenges have had a personal affect on many involved in our club but we remain resolute in our determination to continue our journey at the very highest level of domestic football in Wales.'
Colin was the Cymru Premier's longest serving manager, having been in charge at Maes Tegid for 22 years and 880 games.
The club said he had 'transformed us from a team languishing at a low level in Tier 3 to the very top of Welsh domestic football'.
After achieving promotion in his first season to the Cymru Alliance, then to the Welsh Premier League, he'd kept them in the top-tier for 16 years – the second longest running team in the league. A highlight was an historic Welsh Senior Cup victory.
The club said Colin has been an 'unbelievable servant' and he departs with their 'admiration, respect and gratitude'. Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox
Its statement concluded: 'The club will now take the necessary steps to safeguard the future of football at Bala Town.' Deadline for managerial applications is midnight on Thursday, June 12.
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