Colwyn Bay FC react positively to mixed news on licensing front

Colwyn Bay FC have reacted positively to today’s FAW licensing announcements which delivered mixed news for the Cymru North club.

While the men’s team application for Tier 1 status was rejected by the First Instance Body, the newly-formed women’s side attained a Tier 2 licence at the first attempt.

The men’s team can appeal the decision provided they do so within the next 10 days.

Colwyn Bay believe the men’s application only failed because the club are still awaiting planning permission for a new TV gantry and new floodlights.

They are hopeful this will be rubber stamped when the council meet later this month.

Prestatyn Town faced a similar hurdle last season.

A statement on the Bay website said: “The unsuccessful tier 1 application, of course, hasn’t been detrimental to any plans the club have moving forward for next season in Tier 2, and remains a key process we intend to succeed in.”

Director of Football Neil Coverley commented: “The process itself is quite a long one, made up of many modules, and, accompanied with doing the women’s application, it has taken some five months to get to this point.

“Having spoken to the licensing head officer, Steven Jones, I’ve taken great pride in the fact Colwyn Bay’s application has received very positive feedback.

“It appears the only stumbling block is the planning permission (which was half expected as the council don’t meet till later in the month) and it puts us in a tremendously positive position moving into hopefully a full and healthy tier 2 campaign.

“The best news is that the women’s tier 2 application has been successful and we now move onto the second phase of this process.

“It’s really great news and the first steps on what will be an exciting future for the women’s teams at various age groups for this football club.”

Bay returned to the Welsh football pyramid in 2019-20 after a 35-year absence.