Gavin Chesterfield states loyalty to European heroes
Barry Town United boss Gavin Chesterfield has explained his recruitment policy ahead of the Europa League qualifiers.
Just four new signings have arrived at Jenner Park, since qualifying for the Europa League, including the return of Callum Sainty.
Instead, the Barry boss has showed loyalty to the players who have achieved European a football, a year ahead of their own schedule.
The Barry manager said: “A lot of our lads have got us into Europe and they deserve a chance to get us further in Europe.
“We have added in both experience and in quality and that’s exciting. In terms of the planning, I have to say we’ve had a really good pre-season so far.
“We have strengthened the squad now and we’ll probably strengthen again for the Welsh Premier League. We don’t want this to be just a one season thing, we want this to be something that’s a regular fixture for things to come.
“There’s a lot of interest in the club. It’s my job to choose the players who I think are going to enhance what we do. That’s an art in itself.
One player who is unlikely to return to Barry is Momodou Touray. The 19-year-old scored 13 goals in 31 appearances for the club last season. His efforts saw him named Young Welsh Premier League Player of the Year, pipping teammate Robbie Patten.
Touray has since had an extension on his existing deal with Newport County and has hopes to feature in the first-team squad.
Barry had made inquiries to bring him back but a deal failed to materialise.
“You’ve got to look at your role. Our role was to give a talented young man an opportunity to play football and he earned it.
“Winning the Young Welsh Premier League player was a fitting tribute, he’s come and bought into everything we’ve asked him to do. He’s got his rewards. On the back of that he managed to get a couple of Wales Under-21s caps.
“That’s naturally then going to bring him closer to his first team. Part of my job is whilst as much as I’d love for him to be here.
There’s a huge pride in seeing him now hopefully go back and contribute to Newport’s hopefully successful season.
“There was potential at one point but it doesn’t look like that’s going to happen now.”
Being on loan at Barry, Touray trained three times a week with parent club Newport County. This allowed him to get five days of training with his parent and loanee club.
A change in the loans system could benefit Welsh Premier League clubs in the future, says a hopeful Chesterfield.
The club has developed a number of young players in recent years, the success of Touray’s loan spell, as well as Macauley Southam-Hales’ move to League One side Fleetwood Town.
They have since signed Cardiff City goalkeeper George Ratcliffe, who was named Cardiff’s best young player last season.
“With the loan system in Wales changing next year, I think we might benefit from that.
“Clubs have seen the way we work with young players and I think that basically places us in a good position.
“It’s got to be a mutually beneficial relationship. It can’t be one way, this club has to try and grow and do things like we’ve done this year on a regular basis.”
Barry failed to win any of their pre European friendlies, but with no points earned in uncompetitive fixtures, the Barry boss is happy with what he’s seen from his side as they prepare for the test of Cliftonville.
“We’ve tried a few new things in certain games to try and tweak us a little bit. It’s not easy to arrange but to be fair to Cliftonville they probably find it the same.
“Not many people are playing in June, in fact, we started pre-season the day Liverpool lifted the Champions League so they were in their competition from last year whilst a new one had just begun. That isn’t easy.
“It hasn’t been easy coming back early but to be fair to the boys they’ve returned in good shape and find themselves in a decent place.”
Barry kick off their European campaign on Thursday when they host Cliftonville at Leckwith Stadium.
(Featured Image: Rhys Skinner)
