Fans wait for club's statement
Taken from the BBC

16/11/04

Dave Bennett and Dave GriffithsWREXHAM directors have delayed until later on Tuesday an announcement on the football club's future.

The League One club has debts of £800,000 in unpaid tax and the Inland Revenue will ask the High Court to wind the club up on Wednesday.

Ex-chairman Mark Guterman is trying to buy the club from owner Alex Hamilton.

Some Wrexham football fans hope the club will go into administration, rather than risking it folding altogether later this week.

Mr Hamilton has already rejected two offers from the supporters' trust to buy it.

If the club did go into administration, the team would be docked 10 points by the Football League and many of the best players may then be sold.

A consortium involving two former Wrexham FC chairmen Mark Guterman and Pryce Griffiths, former manager Dixie McNeil and AM John Marek are still waiting to hear whether their offer has been accepted.

The club's directors, who are due to issue a statement at 1600 GMT, are expected to ask for an adjournment of the High Court action, sparked by a winding up order lodged by the Inland Revenue.

They are hoping for a delay of around two weeks which will either give them time to put the club into administration or for Mr Hamilton to accept an offer for the club.

Some fans attending Saturday's 4-0 away win at Hayes in the first round of the FA Cup carried a mock coffin to the game fearing it would be Wrexham's last.

The Inland Revenue is seeking a winding-up order for £800,000 in unpaid taxes.

If the club opts to go into voluntary administration before Wednesday's hearing then at least it could continue operating in the short term.

Councillor Neil Rogers, leader of Wrexham council, said he would like to see the club continue "as a viable, profitable football club" and is due to attend a meeting with Assembly Sports Minister Alun Pugh on Thursday.

Mr Guterman told BBC Radio Wales prior to Saturday's match his latest offer "hasn't been accepted - or rejected".

The former chairman said his consortium is offering Mr Hamilton "a healthy profit".

He added: "The proof of the pudding is whether he accepts the bid or not.

"We're going to fight to the death to save Wrexham FC, there's always hope, we won't give in."

Personalities

But the supporters' trust is opposed to Mr Guterman returning to the club and going into administration is its favoured option.

In a statement it said: "Voluntary administration is the option that offers Wrexham a fresh start and the best chance of long-term survival."

Wrexham MP Ian Lucas said he did not think Mr Hamilton wanted to sell.

"This club can be run on a profitable basis but the historic debt is what is causing the problem," he said.