Ex-chairman's name removed from Racecourse's main stand

By MATT WARNER

07 July 2006

THE name of Wrexham FC's former chairman Pryce Griffiths has been removed from the Mold Road stand.

But a member of the supporters' trust today said the move was a sign the club was going forward.

Yesterday, several signs and noticeboards were taken down at The Racecourse as moves began to attract new sponsors to the club.

It is believed new sponsors will be announced after the deal to buy the club led by businessmen Neville Dickens and Geoff Moss is finalised. There are hopes it could be sealed today, but the administrators say it will almost certainly be next week.

The club's football secretary Geraint Parry said a cherry picker was being used to take down several signs.

He said: "It is not just the Mold Road signs, we have taken a lot of signs down."

It is believed that three companies are in talks to sponsor the stand.

Bruce Clapton, of Wrexham Supporters' Trust, said: "What they are doing, because the commercial side has been so lacking in recent years, is taking down the old signs that are no longer being paid for.

"Five years ago advertising signs were put up but the deals were only for a year. Now that Nev and Geoff have taken over, they are taking down the signs that have not been paid for.

"The Mold Road stand is a valuable, premium site for a major company to advertise as it is the main gateway to Wrexham.

"I think that fans will be happy because a new sponsor will mean money coming into the club.

"It is a sign that the club is being taken seriously and we are moving forward."

Some fans though believe there is double reason to celebrate as many wanted the name of the former chairman removed.

One fan, writing on the Red Passion fan website, said: "It should have been sponsored from the beginning.

"We were complaining about having money and whatnot, yet missing out on thousands of pounds every year by ignoring the massive advertising opportunity in a prime location."