Wrexham Evening Leader

Rival bid lined up to buy the Reds
By Ian St John, Evening Leader

13/12/04

The Racecourse GroundA MIDDLESEX businessman has confirmed he is interested in buying Wrexham FC and plans to keep football at The Racecourse.

But Paul Buttivant says he is unwilling to get involved in an auction for the club.

Mr Buttivant runs a business consultancy company called Dubarry Holdings, who operate from Uxbridge in Middlesex.

He said today: "I am interested in safeguarding Wrexham FC for the future and also making the club, as a business, run profitably.

"I have purposely kept a low profile because there is still talking to be done, but this is serious interest.

"I want to be totally honest with the fans. Total transparency is needed here. The money is not my money - it is the money of my backers.

"I am not too fearful of this turning into an auction, but my backers may be.

"We know our price and what we are willing to pay, although we have not physically made our bid.

"I can't say who my backers are, but they are seriously interested in funding this bid."

Mr Buttivant explained he was alerted to the Wrexham FC situation through his involvement in developing the Feathers pub in Wrexham.

And he revealed he had already spoken to the club's administrators and Wrexham Supporters' Trust.

He added: "I have emphasised our aim is to safeguard the football club for the long term and to make it a profitable business.

"There is obviously development potential there, but once that has been used, the club may find itself back in its present situation in three of four years time.

"Our plan is for the long term - to protect the club and make it a viable business for years to come, not just in the short term.

"We have a specific plan which will do that, although there is still a lot more talking to be done.

"The problem in football in my opinion is that developers and business people come into football to see what they can get out of it for themselves. Our plan will protect Wrexham FC and make it viable."

He said his backers were a small PLC firm who were involved in sport.

Mr Buttivant is the second person to publicly confirm he is interested in buying the Reds from controversial owner Alex Hamilton.

Surrey businessman Andy Smith revealed last week that he was keen to buy the club and take it back out of administration.

He said he expected to know if his bid was successful by Thursday this week.

A local building firm is said to be also interested in buying the club.