Welsh goalkeeper Oliver Davies is the first player to announce his departure from crisis club Merthyr Town this week.

The former Swansea City and Kilmarnock keeper tweeted: “Gutted my time at @MerthyrTownFC has had to come to an end after coming back in the summer.

“I’d like to thank Gav and the lads for an amazing time last season and a specially thank you to the merthyr fans who were amazing at welcoming me back.”

Manager Gavin Williams has said 80 per cent of the Martyrs squad have quit the Southern League club, but he is in talks with players about their futures.

It seems certain there will be more departures, but former Wales and West Ham Williams has committed himself to Merthyr and said in a statement: “I am still in discussion with some players about staying

“I am confident we will be able to field a competitive team, but it will take a bit of time.”

News of the financial crisis was a shock to many supporters, but there have been signs at times that all was not well.

Chief executive Rob Price and board member Mike Williams left the club in September, while Lee Rossiter and Anthony Hughes have stepped down as co-opted board members.

Jamie Mack and Robert Parker have also tendered their resignations from the Merthyr board, while Hughes has stood down as vice chairman.

Williams, though, has decided to take the club’s youth development team to Chesham United on Saturday, while he sorts out how many players will be staying.

He will then have his new-look squad ready for action when Dorchester Town visit Merthyr on Saturday, November 25.

An emergency meeting of owners will be held at Romans at the Loadlok Community Stadium on Monday, November 20 (7.30pm).