Western Mail

Bennett: Buyers are ready to step in
By Darren Devine, Western Mail

18/11/04

Dave BennettWREXHAM director Dave Bennett claims to have potential buyers lined up for the club's Colliers Park training ground to help pay off its £2.5m debts.

Bennett said the Gresford training complex could generate around £500,000 for the Red Dragons, almost all of which would be handed to the taxman to help settle a £900,000 unpaid bill.

But he insisted it would not mean the players being turfed out of a training facility that is among the best in the league as the buyers will allow the club to lease back the facility.

"We have already got something lined up on that (Colliers Park) if we did want to sell it and lease it back.

"We could do something like that so the players could still train there. There have been a few interested parties."

Bennett insists it is unlikely yesterday's decision to take the club into administration will mean players being sold as Wrexham already has one of the smallest squads in the league.

The director said administrator David Acland, of insolvency practitioners Begbies Traynor, has indicated the club is already operating on a skeleton staff.

"He (Acland) has said the staff levels are down to the bone now and you couldn't cut more. But, to be honest, I'm not even looking at that side of it because I might be talking to people about buying the club."

Acland who will assume control of the club's affairs with fellow administrator Steven Williams, yesterday said he is aiming to ensure Wrexham survives.

"It's our hope that sufficient investment can be secured in order for a rescue plan to be formulated to ensure the long-term survival and future success of this famous club."

But it was unclear yesterday how close the club is to striking a deal to sell Colliers Park as Bennett's fellow director Dave Griffiths said he was unaware of any firm bids.

Despite this, Griffiths agreed Colliers Park is one of the few assets Wrexham could sell.

Griffiths also suggested the club could sell Stansty Park, near Wrexham's Racecourse home, where the youth team plays periodically.

But Griffiths said Wrexham owner Alex Hamilton may have already used Stansty to raise cash for himself to offset the £220,000 he has lent the club.

If the Dragons were in a position to sell Stansty, it's expected this would generate a further £100,000.

"The way things have worked out with the cup draw (Wrexham stand to gain £75,000 from their televised FA cup-tie against Scunthorpe United on December 3) it may not be too bad if we can do a deal with the Inland Revenue.

"We may be able to keep everything in hand. The only assets would be Colliers Park and possibly Stansty."

A court hearing to issue an administration order will be held on December 3.

Wrexham centre-back and PFA representative Brian Carey said the players were ready to "knuckle down" if the club is docked 10 points by the Football League after going into administration.

"From the players' point of view, the club continues.

We'll just have to knuckle down and deal with that when it happens."