Wrexham Evening Leader

'Put your cash where your mouth is'

2/11/04

Alex HamiltonEVERYTHING is for sale is the message from club owner Alex Hamilton as Wrexham FC enters the most critical period in its history.

On November 17 the club faces a winding up petition in the High Court from the Inland Revenue because of an unpaid £900,000 tax bill, and last week the electricity supply to The Racecourse was cut off for 24 hours because Scottish Power was demanding payment of a five figure sum.

The club’s accounts have been frozen and it is running under the day to day guidance of an insolvency practitioner.

With the very survival of the club on a knife-edge, controversial owner Alex Hamilton, who quit as chairman after a row with directors Dave Bennett and David Griffiths, says he is keen to listen to any survival packages or offers for the business.

Mr Hamilton met Wrexham Supporters' Trust members yesterday to talk about their survival proposal and Wrexham Council has already indicated it wants to buy the ground.

Mr Hamilton, who owns 78 per cent of the club’s shares, says he is willing to sell both the club and the ground if the price is right.

Welcoming the council’s interest he said: “I would sit down and discuss selling as I would discuss proposals with anybody. The message is clear – everything is for sale. My shares in the club, The Racecourse – it’s all up for sale.

“There is talk of consortiums but I have heard nothing. It’s time for them to put their money where their mouths are. If they want to save the club then let’s hear from them. Let’s hear from the council if they want to make a deal.”

Mr Hamilton said if a consortium was not forthcoming soon, he would push ahead with his controversial plans to close down The Racecourse, relocate the club elsewhere and develop the Mold Road site for housing or shopping.

A planning application will be lodged in the New Year.

He said: “That has always been the initial plan. It’s how I envisaged it and this goes back to Pryce Griffiths’ days.

“Other clubs have relocated and are operating successfully. We are one of about 30 clubs considering it. Look at Liverpool – they want to build in a public park. It happens to a lot of clubs and so does ground share. I don’t know what may happen in the future but I can’t guarantee the club will not be moved elsewhere – maybe across the border into England. Nothing can be ruled out.

“The problem we have this week is because not enough fans come to the game. People say they want to save it but they don’t come to the games to support it.”

Referring to an online petition set up by fans’ websites, he said: “The 11,000 who signed the petition – where are they each Saturday? It’s time for them to their hands in their pocket. Ask grandmother, dad, uncle for £100 and donate it to Charles Wardle of Wrexham Supporters Trust.

“Don’t give it to me, give it to the trust who will be able to pay the Inland Revenue and keep them from winding up the club.”

Referring to a fans’ demonstration outside his Cheshire home in which Mr Hamilton alleges mail was stolen, he said: “However, there will be no deal with the supporters trust or anyone until those Luddite terrorists who came to my home are identified and prosecuted.”

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