Fears as fans' offer turned down
Taken from the BBC

12/11/04

Save the RacecourseMEMBERS of Wrexham Supporters' Trust have had their "second and final" offer to buy the town's football club rejected by owner Alex Hamilton.

They fear the club is now likely to go into liquidation.

The Inland Revenue has lodged a petition to wind up the club, which is due to be heard in the High Court next week.

"He [Hamilton] is quite happy for us to go into liquidation," said trust member Lindsay Jones.

"He has rejected our second bid," he added.

Mr Jones said the new offer would have cleared Mr Hamilton a £1m profit.

However, he thinks the controversial owner is not interested in selling the club as he believes he will get more money for the Racecourse ground as a vacant site.

Speaking on Friday, Mr Hamilton said the trust's second offer was an improvement on the first but there were too many conditions attached.

Mr Hamilton is still believed to be considering a further bid by former Dragons chairman Mark Guterman.

Mr Guterman said he had had no official word from his former business associate although last week Mr Hamilton said he was not taking Mr Guterman's bid seriously.

Mr Hamilton resigned as club chairman two weeks ago but he is said to be reconsidering his position.

His resignation came after the club's bank account was frozen and Scottish Power-Manweb temporarily turned off the electricity because of unpaid bills.

The club's debts are believed to be up to £5m including an unpaid tax bill rumoured to be around £800,000.

Wrexham Council has said it wants to buy the Racecourse Ground to safeguard its location.

On Saturday, Wrexham's players travel to Conference South side Hayes in the first round of the FA Cup.

There are fears among fans that the game could even be the last the team play.

Wrexham manager Denis Smith said it was "50-50" whether the team will still exist next week.

He said players are remaining professional and trying to put the club's worries behind them as they prepare for their FA Cup clash.

Club captain Brian Carey sauid that if putting the club into administration means it survives, then they would support it as the best option.

Charles Wardle from the Supporters' Trust said they had done all they could for the club.

"I'm just praying Saturday isn't the last game," he said.