CLARKE CARRIED OFF AS MARTYTS EARN DRAW

DEBT-HAUNTED Merthyr Town Football Club’s future still seemed uncertain this week.

A Special General Meeting of owners (those who are the Society members) has been called for Thursday night when the interim board will give an update on the financial position.

It will be held at Romans at the LoadLok Community Stadium at 7pm. Supporters who are members are urged to attend as they will have a say in decisions.

And this comes before two tough home games in the Evo-Stik South Premier. Unfortunately, the financial plight and exodus of some of the experienced players has overshadowed the actual football on the field.

And the Martyrs, after Tuesday’s scheduled visit by Basingstoke, host leaders King’s Lynn on Saturday, December 23 (3pm) with big-spending Hereford coming to the LoadLok Community Stadium, Penydarren Park on Boxing Day. This game will start at 1pm and is an all-ticket game. Tickets can be obtained from the club or at the Station Cafe in town.

The club have called for volunteers to help as the fixture, Merthyr’s effectively only local derby, should bring a big crowd. Hereford have been allocated 2,000 tickets, so it will be more like a home game for them. The supporters will be segregated, and the club have liaised with police over arrangements.

If anyone wants to help, they should contact Interim Board member Julian Axhorn.

People are needed as stewards, programme and 50-50 ticket sellers and to be a general help at the ground.

Hereford have ex-Martyrs Keyon Reffell, Ryan Green and Eliot Richards in their squad plus former Martyrs boss Steve Jenkins as their number two.

The sides drew 1-1 at Hereford on August Bank Holiday but the return will be tough for Merthyr who presently sometimes have to play a mixed team of experienced men and youth players, a difficult task for manager Gavin Williams.

Of the players who have so far stayed, some of them are likely to quit when the Welsh Premiership transfer window opens in January, leaving just the development squad and academy players to choose from.

A group of Merthyr Town fans, who have been critical of the club’s old board of directors, have raised money to meet a PAYE bill through justgiving online, and have had bucket collections at Cardiff City and Swansea City as well as at a sporting event at Rhydycar, Merthyr Tydfil.

But no-one seems to know whether these ventures will save the club. The interim board have been holding numerous meetings to tackle the cash flow crisis. And a new board is awaited. The nominations deadline was extended to this week because of the bad weather but it was unclear how many fans were ready to stand.

If Merthyr Town are liquiidated and yet another club formed, it is unlikely they would be allowed to stay in the English nonLeague pyramid by the Welsh FA and would be shunted into the Welsh structure, something which they have fought in the past.

If the club enters a Company Voluntary Agreement (offering so much money in the pound to their creditors), they would face a 10 points deduction.

If the club totally folds, the landlords Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council could put the stadium on the market, bearing in mind the nearly £2m improvements at the offices, bars etc.

Visitors on Saturday King’s Lynn were three points clear at the top of the Evo-Stik South Premier at the weekend although their home game with Slough was postponed. They had 16 wins, three draws and four defeats, and have increased their playing budget this season.

Hereford were fifth on 42 points but with five games in hand over the leaders.

Merthyr fell to 17th spot but 22 points better off than bottom side Dunstable Town.

On the office side, communications officer Matthew Davies has accepted a media job with Bristol Rovers. The club and fans wish him well.

KINGS LANGLEY .......... 2 MERTHYR TOWN ......... 2

THE Martyrs suffered another big blow at the weekend when goalkeeper Cameron Clarke was carried off near the end after colliding with Langley striker Mitchell Weiss.

He spent the night in hospital at Watford, suffering from concussion, with foootball secretary Jamie Mack staying with him until Cameron’s father could arrive from the Valleys.

Merthyr were able to field a strong side and performed well. After five minutes Kerry Morgan’s cross was met by Ryan Prosser and the big forward headed just over.

Merthyr showed plenty of pace in attack, causing problems for the home side.

And on 35 minutes Jaye Bowen netted for Merthyr with a shot from 20 yards after he had spotted keeper Martin Bennett off his line.

Prosser and Ian Traylor went close to adding goals after the break. But on 60 minutes, King drove in great goal from 25 yards after he had run on to a Weiss knock-down.

Kings Langley were pushed back again and in the 77th minute. Captain Ashley Evans scored after a superb move between Prosser and Bowen.

With nine minutes left and Merthyr hoping for a win, the incident involving Clarke occurred, to the dismay of both away and home fans.

Weiss back-headed a ball from Gary Connolly over Clarke and into the goal. The momentum caused Clarke to collide with Weiss and he ended up injured on the ground. Paremedics arrived and Clarke was taken in an ambulance, able to talk but in much pain.

Prosser took over in goals as the game was played out after a 35-minute delay.

At hospital Clarke was given a CT scan and a MRI scan before being allowed home. He was given pain killers because of the severity of the injury.

Later he was able to thank all the fans for their messages of best wishes. Manager Gavin Williams thanked all at Kings Langley forn their help over the incident and for the officials’ gift of money to buy refreshments on the way home.

Clarke returned to Merthyr recently from Cinderford Town as cover for Oliver Davies but then was soon brought into the side when Davies left after the cash plight was revealed. Clarke, from Pontypridd, has also been with Cardiff City and Bristol Rovers.