Prestatyn Town FC chairman steps down – what happens next ?

Prestatyn Town Football Club has announced Jamie Welsh is standing down as chairman.

Merseyside-based Welsh took over the role in June 2020 from Neal Colakoglu.

The club had just won the Cymru North league title by a massive 16-point margin, but were denied promotion to the Cymru Premier after being unable to secure a Tier 1 licence due to their TV gantry failing to meet the required standard.

Town later won planning permission to upgrade the structure to the level needed, but the decision missed the promotion deadline.

Welsh’s first season as chairman was null and void due to the Covid-19 pandemic, but was nonetheless eventful, with successful first-team manager Neil Gibson leaving the club in October 2020.

This did not go down well with many of the club’s long-standing supporters, leading to a tense relationship between chairman and Prestatyn Town Supporters Trust, who at one stage declared their intention to wrest control of the club.

After Gibson’s departure, former TNS and Colwyn Bay player John Lawless initially took over as manager, but was later appointed director of football, with Ryan Turner taking on managerial duties.

In January 2022, a three-man management set-up of John Barnes, Andrew Ruscoe and Paddy Hamid took over responsibility for the team.

Despite a long run of disappointing results, the Seasiders avoided relegation from Tier 2, finishing 13th out of 15 at the end of 2021-22.

May 2022 saw Chris Jones become Seasiders boss. His first season at the helm was a good one, Town finishing sixth in the Cymru North, with Dan Atkins named league Young Player of the Season and joint Golden Boot winner.

Jones departed in October 2023 after a mixed start to the current season and Karl Clair took on the reins as player-manager.

Clair won his first three games in charge, lost seven of the next nine, but has led Prestatyn to the WBS League Cup semi-finals, where they meet Llandudno this month.

Prestatyn Town released the following statement, headed Ownership, today:

“Chairman Jamie Welsh has stepped down from his role today.

“He will also be reigning from his role as director of Prestatyn Town Football Club Ltd.

“News regarding our new director will be released soon.

“We wish Jamie all the best – Prestatyn Town FC.”

What happens next for Prestatyn Town?

The rumour mill is already working overtime, with the chairman of another local club being talked about as a potential successor to Welsh.