Wrexham Evening Leader

Ex-Director wants Cash

15 December 2003

David Lovett

By David Lovett

A FORMER director of Wrexham Football Club today claimed he and two other ex-directors are still owed money after being asked to leave the board. Mark Guterman, the club chairman, was in a meeting and said he could not comment.

Steve Markreth was asked to give up his directorship along with co-directors, Graham Jones and Phil Griffiths just over 12 months ago.

Markreth, 53, said today: "Mr Guterman may not agree with this, but as far as I am concerned we mere bombed out of the club. But whatever the reasons, part of the deal when we agreed to go was we would be repaid the money we had loaned to the club as directors.

"We have had some money paid in instalments but the club are now eight months overdue in paying me. In no way am I knocking the club. Wrexham Football Club was a big part of my life. I played for the club, I supported them and I was very proud to end up as a director of my hometown club.

unless I get the money I am still owed by January 2, 2004, my solicitors will be implementing a winding-up order on the club

Steve Mackreth

"I never asked to leave the board. Neither did the other two directors who were also asked to leave by Mr Guterman. He has not honoured the agreement he made with us when we agreed to go and that is not right. And unless I get the money I am still owed by January 2, 2004, my solicitors will be implementing a winding-up order on the club. I do not want that to happen. That is the last thing I want to happen – but I just want the money I am owed.

Jones and Griffiths were unavailable today, but I understand they and Mackreth each invested £15,000 in the club.

Mackreth was speaking from Southampton hours before sailing to new York on the QE2. He said: “We’re sailing this afternoon and speaking spending a few days in new York and flying back on Christmas Eve.”

Guterman was involved in a meeting that was expected to take most of today. But he asked the three directors to stand down saying he may replace them with others. That ahs not happened so far and currently there are only three directors plus the chairman. They are David Rhodes, David Griffiths and Dave Bennett.

The club, however, claim all three will be paid the money they are owed as soon as Wrexham get money outstanding from the Sports Council for Wales for work being completed on the Pryce Griffiths Stand.


David RhodesWrexham FC today faxed the Evening leader a copy of a letter sent to Steve Mackreth's solicitors, Geoffrey Morrison and Ashton.

The letter, from Wrexham chief executive David Rhodes, is addressed to Mark Davies at the practice and says: "I am disappointed that you state you do not appear to have heard from the club concerning Mr Mackreth's monies, as I kept you fully up to date with the matter in our telephone conversation of last week.

"To confirm, we have now asked Dr John Marek, the AM for Wrexham, to try and expedite this matter. As I mentioned in our telephone conversation, I will report to you as soon as I have any positive response from Dr Marek and the Sports Council."