Wrexham FC in Danger - 31/10/2004

Wrexham, the only league club in North Wales, faces a winding up order on 17 November after its chairman, Alex Hamilton, withdrew a pledge to pay £200,000 of a £800,000 bill to the Inland Revenue. John Reames, the managing director, has resigned over Hamilton's involvement with the club whose debts stand at around £2 million. ScottishPower cut off electricity at the Racecourse Ground after running out of patience with the club over unpaid bills. With Saturday's match against Hull City in doubt, the bill was paid two days before. Wages have not been paid and the club's bank account has been frozen. After a recent board meeting, however, the chairman hit back at fans with a threat to pull the club's funding after claims that he and his family had been harrassed. Hamilton has called in the police and private security guards for which he intends to bill the club. The recent experience of clubs such as Luton (featured in a recent tv documentary) and Manchester United show that it is difficult to run a club when the fans are against you.