Barry Town to unveil new club strategy

Monday, 10 November 2025 14:36

Barry Town United will unveil a new five-year strategy ahead of a major shake-up in the Cymru Premier.

All twelve teams in the Welsh top flight are holding similar events as part of plans for closer links with the FAW.

It would make Wales the first nation in Europe where every club in the top tier has a formal long term strategy connected directly to football's governing body.

The launch at Jenner Park - on Thursday 20th November - is designed to bring together local buisnesses, sponsors and community partners as club officials outline their plans for sustainable growth, community impact and success on the pitch.

Mark Barrett, chairman of Barry Town United, said: "This launch marks a new chapter for Barry Town United...it’s about building a club that thrives both on and off the pitch - one that brings real value to Barry, The Vale, and everyone connected with our football community."

The club says the new strategy will reinforce Barry Town's position as one of the most progressive community-owned clubs in Welsh football.

The Jenner Park launch will include sessions on the club's future direction, including plans to develop its facilities and engage with commercial and community partners, as well as key performance targets on the pitch.

Next season, the Cymru Premier will expand from 12 teams to sixteen as part of wider ranging changes, which will see most games being played on Friday night and the introduction of a VAR Lite system, as part of a £6 million investment package from the FAW.

Beyond the top flight, Aberystwyth Town and Newtown - who were both relegated from the Cyrmu Premier - have also developed similar five-year plans.

The hope is that teams in the Cymru North and the Cymru South - such as Llantwit Major - will soon start to prepare their own "light touch" plans, lasting 2-3 years and aimed at helping to create a pathway from the second to the first tier.

An FAW spokesperson said: "These club strategies move beyond football performance, setting out each club’s long-term vision for growth, sustainability, infrastructure and impact."

"They are a statement of intent that Welsh football is modernising while staying true to its identity, combining authenticity, ambition and investable potential in equal measure."

Barry Town Unied also plan to host a fan-led evening on their new strategy, allowing supporters to hear from club representatives and ask questions about the way forward.

Fans can also attend the official strategy launch, which takes place from 9am - 11.30am on Thursday 20th November at Jenner Park. Anyone interested can confirm their place by emailing Ollie.Waterhouse@barrytown.co.uk.

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