Club to hold crisis talks

Welshpool Rugby Club is holding its most important meeting since reforming in 1967 after starting 2011 with barely enough players to fulfil senior fixtures.

 

The club has called an emergency meeting for Tuesday night after just 15 players made themselves available for the local derby with Newtown last Saturday.  While an encouraging turn-out was reported for training last night, numbers available are still low ahead of tomorrow’s match at Bangor.

 

The club is currently at the bottom of the North Wales League Division Two and has already suffered a four-point deduction for failing to play a match. And while officials admit the senior situation is dire, they are adamant that the club has a strong youth system and will not fold, adding that the meeting is a wake-up call for the town.

 

In a statement to mywelshpool, Chairman Gary Williams said: “Let’s not beat about the bush, the situation is extremely serious. We have already had four points deducted by the WRU for failing to fulfil a fixture and last Saturday saw just 15 players available for a home derby match against Newtown.

 

“We currently have 60+ senior players registered with the WRU but struggle to get 15 on a Saturday. This state of affairs cannot continue. We need to know from all our registered players if they are willing to make themselves available for the rest of this season, hence the meeting on Tuesday at 7pm in the Clubhouse.

 

“There is a small band of very hard-working individuals busting a gut for Welshpool Rugby Club and I want them to be re-assured, by the players especially, that their efforts are not in vain and that there is a future for Welshpool Rugby Club at senior level.

 

“This meeting could well be the most important since the Club was re-formed in 1967, the situation is that serious.”

 

Despite the senior level gloom, the club has a thriving youth policy and secretary Barry Williams stressed: “I would like to make it clear that our concerns in this matter relate only to the senior side of the club, and that any talk of the club 'folding' is simply untrue and has not even been contemplated - a rugby club's success or failure does not begin and end with the fortunes of one side.

 

“We are in the process of refurbishing and upgrading our facilities. We have a junior and youth set-up to rival many in North Wales, and are in a strong financial position, all of which points to a bright future for the club once this immediate danger is overcome.”

 

Anyone wanting further information is asked to contact Gary on 07713 514 375 or email gwcymru1@aol.com.