Council chief heads to Cardiff

18 November 2004

A TOP level delegation was due to meet Welsh Assembly sports minister, Alun Pugh, this morning in Cardiff to ask him to financially back a plan by Wrexham Council to buy Wrexham FC's Racecourse ground.

Council leader Neil Rogers, Wrexham MP Ian Lucas and Clwyd South AM Karen Sinclair, would ask Mr Pugh to back the exciting proposal.

The council want to buy the freehold of the Mold Road stadium from controversial club owner, Alex Hamilton, to safeguard the site for future generations.

The council proposal has been backed by thousands of North Walians. More than 5,500 readers backed the Evening Leader's campaign urging Mr Pugh to support the proposal.

Cllr Rogers said he would spell out the importance of the stadium for North Wales as he tried to convince Mr Pugh the Assembly should contribute.

Before he left for Cardiff Mr Lucas said: "Everybody would agree The Racecourse is vital to the strategy for sport in North Wales.

"People should also remember that public money has been spent on the stadium when it was used to help fund the building of the Pryce Griffiths stand. The council's proposal will safeguard that public money.

"Although every one of us is concerned about the future of the football club, this proposal is purely to safeguard the stadium.

The football club is a private business which we have little influence over. I will be hoping the Assembly will look kindly on our request that it should give a financial contribution to safeguard The Racecourse stadium as it is the only stadium in North Wales."

The sports minister has so far refused to reveal whether there will be cash available for the council's Racecourse bid.

However, he has indicated that money could be forthcoming.

He recently said: "As the only venue in North Wales where full international matches can take place, The Racecourse ground is a crucial piece of Welsh sporting infrastructure.

"Wrexham Council has shown considerable leadership in this area, while substantial sums of public money have been invested in the facility, including about £1 million in Sportlot funding through the Sports Council of Wales.

"We have had no formal request for financial support at this stage, but we would obviously consider any such request very seriously."

Reds' delegation in Cardiff cash plea

A SPECIAL delegation from Wrexham arrived in Cardiff today to urge the Welsh Assembly to help fund ambitious council plans to buy the under-threat Racecourse ground.

Less than 24 hours after raising the plight of Wrexham FC with Prime Minister Tony Blair, Wrexham MP Ian Lucas is part of the group to meet Sports Minister Alun Pugh to ask for Assembly cash.

Speaking this morning Mr Lucas said he was not expecting the Assembly to make an announcement of funding for Wrexham Council's plans but said it would mark the start of discussions.

Today Wrexham FC's administrators-in-waiting will be looking to find a buyer for the troubled club before it is passed into their hands.

The men who will be tasked with pulling the club out of the mire will be hoping for someone to table a speedy rescue package, and avoid the financial restrictions and 10-point penalty costs of administration.

The proposed joint administrators are David Acland and Steven Williams of Begbies Traynor's specialist football finance unit based in Preston.

Wrexham directors Dave Bennett and David Griffiths opted for this drastic course of action on Tuesday, which meant the winding up petition facing the club was adjourned.

David Acland has worked with clubs such as Chester City and Huddersfield Town, which have also had to enter into administration in the past, and is hoping to secure a brighter future for the Dragons.

He said: "We are familiar with the club's heritage and past successes and understand its importance to the people of Wrexham."