D-day for Rhyl as Welsh football awaits key decision

The very future of Rhyl FC could be decided tomorrow after placing a self imposed deadline on themselves.

After a number of extensions to their initial deadlines of April 8 and April 17, the Lilywhites have set a ‘final’ deadline of April 20 for any external investment to come forward to save the club.

“We discussed with the Rhyl Fans Association extending the deadline 5.00pm on Monday, 20 April, at which point a final decision will be made on the future of the club,” said chairman Paul Higginson.

Earlier this month, Rhyl revealed they require a minimum of £175,000 to help sustain the future of the club for at least next season.

A lack of external investment could see the Lilywhites enter liquidation, thus ending the history of one of Wales’ most glamorous clubs.

A GoFundMe appeal set up by the Rhys Fans Association has only garnered £3,000 from a target of £20,000.

In their latest statement, Rhyl said a party had expressed their interest and awaiting their clarification.

It further adds that the FAW are aware of the clubs’ current predicament and have received timescales for key decisions.

Before football was suspended by the FAW following the Coronavirus outbreak, Rhyl were 9th in the inaugural Cymru North.

The Coronavirus pandemic has seen football suspended in Wales since March 13.

With no viable income streams for the immediate future, the Coronavirus could be about to claim its first football club.

In happier times, Rhyl celebrated four Welsh Cup wins and two Cymru Premier title wins.

Their Belle Vue home – a large part of their expenditure – has staged a number of European fixtures, including Connah’s Quay’s two clashes with Kilmarnock and Partizan Belgrade last summer.