Marek slams delegation as a Labour Party stunt

19 November 2004

THE delegation that held crunch funding talks at the National Assembly concerning Wrexham Football Club has come under fire for playing "political football" with the issue.

Wrexham MP Ian Lucas was joined by council leader Neil Rogers and Karen Sinclair AM yesterday as talks were held with Sport Minister Alan Pugh about possible funding to help secure the future of the troubled club and Racecourse Ground.

But a number of AMs, including Dr John Marek and Eleanor Burnham, were left feeling dejected after being "snubbed" by the delegation.

Dr Marek told the Leader he thought the talks were merely a publicity stunt, but despite his suspicions hoped they would have a positive outcome.

He said: "Eleanor Burnham, Janet Ryder, Mark Isherwood, Brynle Williams and myself were not invited to this meeting and we all represent Wrexham.

"I can only say this delegation is nothing to do with saving Wrexham FC, but is actually just publicity for the Labour Party.

"Members of all the parties want to save the football club as Wrexham is united on this.

"Quite frankly, how can someone like Karen Sinclair be involved, who represents Clwyd South, and not the rest of us.

"It is a great shame that Labour is playing politics with this, but despite that I still hope they can achieve success if they are going to try and secure funding for the club and ground."

Eleanor Burnham AM said: "I was Wrexham-born and it quite surprising me that this issue has become a political football. It is very sad as we have all supported this issue and it is a very important issue at that."

But lan Lucas, Wrexham MP, said: "It is a bit odd to say that when Aled Roberts, the leader of the Liberal Democrat group, was part of the delegation. I am not interested in playing political games, my only interest is saving Wrexham Football Club."