THE man credited with bringing 10 years of glory to Rhyl FC has quit the club.
Businessman Peter Parry said he would stand down as President of the Welsh Premier champions early in the New Year after overseeing a glorious period in which the Lilywhites have become established as one of the main forces in Welsh football.
During Parry’s time at the helm, Rhyl have qualified for European competition in six successive seasons and twice won the Welsh Premier League after previously struggling to compete.
There have also been noticeable improvements made to the club’s Belle Vue home to make it one of the leading stadiums in the Welsh Premier League and capable of hosting European matches.
The Lilywhites’ managing director Dave Milner, who has worked with Mr Parry for almost 10 years at the club, has reassured fans they will be looking to stay a leading Welsh Premier side despite the departure of Mr Parry.
He said: “We are currently doing the end of year accounts and by the end of the season we should have a budget in place for next season. We are still looking to achieve success in the future.
“Peter has been a leader and the inspiration behind our success. He put the management team together and used his network of friends to help support the club, while inputting a large amount of funding himself.
“We have achieved more than we ever expected. We set out a five year plan in 2002 to win the league and that was achieved within two years along with several other cups that season.”
Mr Parry, who was linked with leaving Rhyl in the summer, will continue to maintain links with the club by remaining a sponsor although he is to mainly pursue other interests.
In a statement on Rhyl’s official website, he said: “I have enjoyed the challenges within the club in my current role. The club is now on an even keel but my focus will be on other ventures outside football.
“I would like to thank everybody involved for their support in making Rhyl one of the leading clubs in Wales.”
A former player with Rhyl and Runcorn, Mr Parry has gone on to be a successful businessman in the healthcare industry.
nAnyone interested in joining the Rhyl board for next season should contact Dave Milner on 01745 338327.