Football

Kane stands down as Aber chairman

by Adam Hughes

ABERYSTWYTH Town’s incoming chairman Tony Bates has praised the efforts of his predecessor, Donald Kane (pictured left), who stepped down from the post at the club’s AGM last Tuesday.
Kane has pledged to remain a director of the club, and Bates was quick to pay tribute to the popular Scotsman, who played a fundamental role in establishing Aber as a Welsh Premier club.
“Donald Kane’s contribution to Aberystwyth Town as player, committee man, sponsor, director, and for the last 13 years as Chairman has been, simply, second to none,” commented Bates
“Along with the late Rhun Owens, and current vice chairman, David Evans, Donald’s financial contributions saved the club from going into administration in the 1997/98 season.
“The stadium and set-up that we now have at Park Avenue are a testament to the towering influence he has had at the club.”
Local businessman Kane first came to the town as student at Aberystwyth University, before joining the Seasiders as player in 1981, and eventually becoming the club’s chairman in 1997.
He was a member of the squad that played in the first ever season in the national league, and made over 120 Welsh Premier appearances before his last first team game in 2000, aged 37.
During his time as club chairman Aberystwyth twice qualified to compete in the Intertoto Cup, in 1999 and 2004, as well as reaching the Welsh Cup Final for the first time in over a century.
Aberystwyth solicitor Bates, who is also a member of the Welsh Premier League’s Board, said he was hugely grateful for the support shown by Kane when he first joined the club.
He added: “Donald had previously suggested to me that, due to work commitments, he was not able to attend as many away matches as he felt that he should as club chairman, and that he would be prepared to resign.
“I have always begged him to stay on as chairman, since frankly I felt that I did not have the all round ability to fill his shoes.
“Over the last 10 years I have learnt from Donald and other directors sufficient to enable me to have a go at the job of chairman, and I do so extremely humbled by the decision of my co-directors to entrust the role to me.
“I also do so happily in the knowledge that Donald is remaining as Director of Football and that David Evans will be staying on as vice chairman.”
Bates added that he is confident that Aberystwyth is well-placed to take up its place in the new Super 12 league next season.
“It seems pretty clear that we will achieve our main objective this year of a top 10 position, thereby ensuring that we go on to play in the slimmed down league next season,” Bates said.
“Only those clubs attaining a Domestic Licence will be allowed to remain in the League, and I am delighted that we are virtually compliant, with only a couple of turnstiles to install!
“Last season we continued improvements to the Club with the provision of a disabled area and emergency lighting in the Dias Stand and the uncovered stand.
“This year, with the aid of a 50 per cent grant from Ceredigion County Council, we have fitted out the kitchen area, and once the turnstiles have been installed we will have completed all Domestic Licence requirements.”
He added: “There are many toings and froings going on with regard to the Domestic Licence, and do not be too surprised if one or more of the clubs attaining top 10 position this season do not make the cut as far as the Domestic Licence is concerned and will therefore be relegated.”
Meanwhile, the club has also reported a profit over the year.
Bates commented: “I can also confirm that the club has posted a profit for the financial year to 30 November 2009 of over £22,000, principally due to the Club reaching the final of the Welsh Cup last year and the profits made by our 125th Year Celebrations. Obviously, these will not be repeated this year!”