Long-serving manager to leave Barry Town after 15 years
Barry Town manager Gavin Chesterfield on the touchline. Cardiff Metropolitan University v Barry Town United in the JD Cymru Premier at Cyncoed Campus on the 15th March 2022. Credit: Lewis Mitchell
Barry Town United have announced that Gavin Chesterfield is to depart the club in the next two months.
Chesterfield who has accumulated 15 years of service to the club is leaving to take up a role in professional football.
He will manage up until the Cymru South game against Trefelin at Jenner Park Stadium on Saturday, November 5.
It will see him manage up to six more matches before he vacates the hot seat at the Vale of Glamorgan club.
As to who will replace him, Barry say an announcement will come in ‘due course’ with a meeting held with their supporters.
At the time of the announcement, Barry are sixth in the Cymru South with four wins and two defeats from their opening six matches.
During his time at the club, he led the clubs’ revival after they were pulled out of the Welsh Football League system, despite reaching the Welsh Cup semi-final in the 2013 season.
They were later reinstated but placed in the fourth tier under a new name with Chesterfield sticking around to get the club back to its former glory.
Club chairman Mark Barrett: said: “Whilst we are all devastated to lose Gavin, we accept this is an opportunity for him to work full-time in a significant player development role which he has dreamed of doing since he was himself released professionally in 2001.
“From the bottom of my heart, I thank Gavin personally for all he has done for the club and our town since 2007.
“We know that Barry Town will forever be his club and will always hold a very special place in his heart. He will never be a stranger at Jenner Park.
“Naturally, this will have an impact on the club hence why Gavin will serve his full notice period and stays with us for a few months whilst we make the transition both on and off the field.
“I fully understand this news will come as a shock to all supporters, therefore a members meeting to chat through further will be held in the coming weeks; with a further statement on the appointment of our next manager announced in due course.”
Under Chesterfield’s tenure, they had three promotions in four seasons and also reached the final of the Nathaniel MG Cup.
In their first season, they reached the Europa League play-offs before a year later finishing third that ending a 14-year absence, this was in the same season as reaching the Welsh Cup semi-finals.
A fourth-placed finish was enough to secure Europe for back-to-back years after COVID-19 ended the 2019/20 campaign.
Barry then finished fifth in their fifth season back in the top flight but were relegated last year after finishing 11th.
