ONE of Wrexham FC's longest serving fans says the town will be devastated if the club goes to the wall.

Clifford Hughes of Caergwrle has been following the Reds for 73 years, after first being taken to The Racecourse by his dad as a 10-year-old.

Clifford, a season ticket holder, was as usual in the Mold Road stadium on Saturday to cheer on his beloved Reds as they faced Hull City.

But he shared in supporters' fears that the game could be one of the last ever at the stadium as Wrexham FC's cash crisis reaches its climax.

And, although doing his best to remain optimistic, Clifford conceded the very future of the club hangs in the balance.

The 83-year-old former electrical fitter said: "I started coming here when my dad took me for the first time. I was 10 and it was a big thing. My father, Peter, was a miner and a lot of people we knew went in those days - not so much now; we had some tremendous times and great occasions.

"It's terrible what's happening, but who knows what will happen now? It changes all the time. Has the chairman gone? Will he come back? Nobody seems to know. He still owns the club. What will happen to the club?

"I think we will be saved. Something will happen I hope. It would be terrible for the town if it didn't - devastating. But I think we do have a future.

"None of this should have happened. It all goes back to when Pryce Griffiths sold the club. He said he didn't want to sell it to anybody who didn't have the club at heart. He sold it to Mark Guterman, but he was working for Alex Hamilton and now look what's happened. But there is so much confusion right now, it's difficult to say what's really happening."

Although Clifford is an optimist, he is also realistic about the problems facing Wrexham FC.

"It's money, isn't it? It's got to be. I think there is a future and I think we can still go on here, but it's going to be down to money. And you have to be realistic. The crowds are low and it's difficult to run a football team with crowds like that.

"Years ago all the people were Wrexham people around here and would come to the game. Nowadays, because of the movement of the population around the country, it's not the same. People live here but don't come from Wrexham; they have no ties to the club and don't come here.

"I do think there is a future; I hope there is, but it's going to be difficult."

Someone who runs Clifford close in the stakes for Wrexham's longest-serving fan is his wife Lorna.

She said: "I have been coming here for 70 years I would guess. I would come with my brothers and stand on the Kop; it was wonderful.

"We are now both season ticket holders and come to every home game. We used to go away as well, but not now.

"If I had the money, I would buy the ground, I really would. I hope something is done before it's too late."