Local councillors have agreed to help Tenby Sharks Boxing Club try and find a new permanent home in the town, after the coach said he feared for it’s future.

The Club was dealt a ‘body blow’ recently after learning that they will no longer be able to train at their current venue at the town’s De Valence due to its long-term unavailability.

However, head coach Mark Davies has vowed to try and find the club a permanent home in the town, after its success since opening over a year ago.

“We’ve had great support since the appeal went out last month, but nothing has materialised , so the more people we can get behind it and on board the better,” he told councillors ahead of their meeting on Tuesday night.

“There just isn’t much space free in Tenby. The season starts this month, and we were hoping to have a couple of novices fight next month, but it’s not fair on the people involved that we want to put forward, that we don’t have a permanent facility to train,” continued Mark.

Deputy Mayor, Clr. Mrs. Christine Brown remarked that she felt that the leisure centre was the place the club should be based really. “It would be a massive shame to lose the boxing club, have you approached our county councillor Mike Evans on this?” she asked.

“I have, but trying to catch up with Clr. Evans is like chasing a shadow! At first the leisure centre told me they didn’t have room when I approached them, and then some slots became available but they considered charging people £5 and that’s just not viable,” explained Mark.

“If four kids from Pembroke Dock come down, that’s £20 for one family. We want it to be affordable for people to join us, not so that the Leisure Centre can just make money on it.

“We’ve been so lucky with the De Valence it has been ideal as there was space there also to store our kit, so we’ve been a bit spoilt,” he continued.

Mark said that he’d also made enquiries about using the former National Park office in Tenby, but contract complications made that unviable too, and Greenhill School too.

“I’ve hit a brick wall really, and it’s become quite stressful. I love the club and what it brings to the community, but if we don’t find something soon, then we might have to consider knocking it in on the head!”

Clr. Mrs. Sam Skyrme-Blackhall said that she would approach Revd Canon Andrew Grace in Tenby, to see if there was the possibility of using the church basement at all, whilst Clr. Paul Rapi suggested approaching the Scout Hall on Warren Street.

“Ideally some where we can use and train three nights a week would be perfect, but if we can find some where that we can put on more training sessions a week, then that would be even better,” said Mark.

“At least people are listening now and hopefully we can push on and find some where permanent.”

Anyone who thinks they can help can contact Mark via email at: [email protected] or via the Tenby Sharks Facebook page.