Former Cardiff City chairman Tony Clemo, who was a Bluebirds’ director for almost 20 years, has died at the age of 79.
The highlight of his tenure at Ninian Park came in 1988 when Frank Burrows, a manager appointed by Clemo, led Cardiff to promotion from Division Four and won the Welsh Cup.
Clemo was a Welsh International middle distance athlete, a close friend of Olympic gold medallist Lynn Davies and was athletics coach and physical education teacher at Cardiff’s old Waterhall High School.
He stepped down as Bluebirds’ chairman in 1992 after a turbulent period during which he was the target of a hate campaign by fans angry that cash-starved Cardiff. At one stage Clemo threatened to close the club, but Barry Island holiday camp owner Rick Wright stepped in and paid off debts.
“When Rick took over as financial controller I said I would stay on for a year or two to help out,” said Clemo in 1992 when he left the club. “Now Rick has plans for the club , so my departure gives him a free rein.
“I have no regrets. It was time to go.”
Clemo faced financial problems at Cardiff City and Red Arrow Travel, the company he bought from then club chairman Fred Dewey for £100,000 in 1987.
At the time of his resignation, Clemo talked about the problems he faced, saying: “It was an horrific time. The finances of the club were terrible and I had to work hard simply to keep things going.
“But I also have many happy memories too.”
He joined the Cardiff board in 1975, part of a consortium moulded by local businessman Clive Griffiths. The takeover group included Clemo, Welsh-speaker Eddie Jones from Ystrad Celyn, Maesteg, scrap metal company director Hyman ‘Tiny’ Latner, Ukraine-born Stefan Terlezki, North East businessman Bob Grogan and Jack Leonard from Kenton Utilities.
Clemo, who often drove an electric blue Rolls Royce, was vice-chairman to Terlezki and also served under Grogan before stepping up club in 1986 when Kenton Utilities released control to him.
He launched Airways International Cymru in 1983 and later Amber Air. He was also a director of Tito’s nightclub in Cardiff.
There were times during the 1980s when Clemo virtualy ran the club single-handed.
“We were just about keeping our heads above water,” said Clemo later.
“In my first year we made a small loss and in the second a bit of a profit because we sold one or two players.
“Cardiff earned promotion and that’s when we started to hit problems financially.
“We had not talked about administration, but if Rick Wright had not come along then, yes, that probably would have been the outcome.”
Clemo retained a strong interest in the Bluebirds and around a decade ago he worked to rally minority shareholders to launch a legal battle against Sam Hammam.
Cardiff City FC chairmen through the years
1910-1914 Sid Nicholls
1914-1919 JA McFarlane
1919-1920 Dr Alex Brownlee
1920-1921 Walter Riden
1921 John Pritchard
1921-1923 Walter Empsall
1923-1924 Charles Cox
1924-1925 Dr William Nicholson
1925-1926 Sid Nicholls
1926-1927 Walter Parker
1927 Watkin J Williams
1927-1929 Walter Parker
1929-1930 Dr Alex Brownlee
1930-1932 Walter Riden
1932-1933 Dr William Nicholson
1933-1934 Walter Parker
1934 Dr Alex Brownlee
1934 Tudor Steer
1934-1935 Dr Alex Brownlee
1935-1936 Tudor Steer
1936-1937 Dr James Wade
1937-1938 Chris Page
1938-1939 William Forbes
1939-1953 Herbert Merrett
1953-1954 John Morgan
1954-1957 Sir Herbert Merrett
1957-1964 Ron Beecher
1964-1972 Fred Dewey
1972-1975 David Goldstone
1975-1977 Stefan Terlezki
1977-1983 Bob Grogan
1983-1986 Jack Leonard
1986-1992 Tony Clemo
1992-1995 Rick Wright
1995-1999 Samesh Kumar
1999-2000 Steve Borley
2000-2007 Sam Hammam
2007-2010 Peter Ridsdale
2010-2013 Dato Chan Tien Ghee
2013 Simon Lim (acting)
2013-current Mehmet Dalman