Dixie: Why I'm backing Guterman
EXCLUSIVE By Mark Currie, Daily Post
20 November 2004
WREXHAM
legend Dixie McNeil is staking his reputation on Mark Guterman securing a
long-term future for the embattled League One club.
Speaking for the first time about his backing for former Racecourse chairman
Guterman's bid to buy the club from owner Alex Hamilton, the former Dragons
player and manager said simply: "I love Wrexham Football Club and I just want it
to be saved.
"I am a grandfather now and I want to be sure that when he is old enough 111 be
able to take my grandson to the Racecourse to watch Wrexham play."
McNeil, 57, who has been lined up to become chief executive at the Racecourse if
Guterman's takeover goes ahead, revealed he had first been offered a hands-on
role following the departure earlier this year of long-serving director, David
Rhodes.
"That was long before any of the present problems surfaced and I was giving the
offer some serious consideration," he added.
"But shortly afterwards, there was the fans' red-card protest and Mark's
subsequent departure from the club. And I didn't hear from him again until the
present situation developed with him seeking to regain control."
Despite the misgivings of Wrexham fans, who hold Guterman responsible for the
club's crippling tax bill and the deals through which Hamilton gained the
freehold of the Racecourse, McNeil insisted: "I would not be involved now if I
thought this bid to buy the club would be to the detriment of Wrexham FC.
"It's not something I'm going into blind and I've told Mark before and often
that he has a lot of bridges to build. I told him that from day one and I can
honestly say my only motive for working with him is to put this club back
together.
"With the exception of the playing side of things, the club has huge problems to
overcome, its off-field performance needs to be improved all round and we need
to rebuild from the bottom.
"If we are to achieve those objectives, we have to work with the fans and the
wider community and get everybody on board with us to take Wrexham forward. If
I'm given the job of running the club on a day-to-day basis, I will do so
honestly and transparently.
"Those people who know me would agree that as a player and as a manager I have
alway been straight and I tell it like it is. I've done it as a player and a
manager for Wrexham and I'd like to think I'm a bit older and a bit wiser now
but still have something to offer."
Signed from Hereford for £65,000 by former Wrexham manager Arfon Griffiths in
1977, McNeil scored 54 goals for the Dragons in 167 league appearances.
He was a key member of the side which won promotion from the old Division Three
as champions in 1978.
McNeil re-signed for Hereford in 1982 but returned to the Racecourse as manager
three years later, leading the club to the Division Four play-off final in the
1988-89 season.
He resigned in October of the following campaign.