Fans blast Wrexham chief's £300 ask

By Lucy Ballinger

28 November 2004

Alex Hamilton with fansWREXHAM fans reacted with disbelief last night to owner Alex Hamilton's request they stump-up £300 each to pay the tax bill.

The club will go into administration by Friday if it doesn't pay £900,000 owed to the Inland Revenue.

A bid from former Wrexham Football Club chairman Mark Guterman to buy the financially-troubled club was withdrawn this week after he said Mr Hamilton refused to accept it within a reasonable time.

Now the owner has turned to Dragons fans, but many are now saying they would welcome administration as a way of getting rid of him.

"Based on average gates of 3,000, if every fan came up with £300 the debt would be paid off," said Mr Hamilton.

Board member of Wrexham Supporter's Trust Lindsay Jones said: "His request is laughable. Wrexham fans will all treat this with contempt.

"It is not a serious proposal. He has never treated us with any respect and this is a publicity stunt.

"In the short-term we need to go into administration to protect the long-term future of the club. It won't be pleasant, but it is important to get Hamilton out."

Member of Wrexham Supporter's Trust Charles Wardle said the trust has collected a 'war chest' to save the club - but it wouldn't be going to Mr Hamilton.

"If we helped pay the Inland Revenue bill it would be playing into his hands," said Mr Wardle.

"We have collected money to try and save the club and we are forming a battle chest to save Wrexham."

But some fans have donated lump sums to try and save the club - a fact greeted with disbelief by other fans.

"I won't be making a contribution, but I do know one or two fans who have donated," said Wrexham councillor Neil Rogers.

"I think it is a gimmick on Hamilton's part. The club has got into this situation and now he is asking the fans who have contributed with their support by paying at the turnstiles for even more."

Last week, in the continuing saga over the club's future, Wrexham MP Ian Lucas claimed legal action against Mr Hamilton was being considered after a meeting between politicians from the town and Wales' Sports Minister Alun Pugh. A legal hearing will now go ahead next month to try to put the club into administration.