Wrexham chairman stands down

2011-02-21 16:24:52

Wrexham Football Club say chairman Rob Bickerton is standing down and they would like to sell to fans.

Statements from the club on Monday confirmed potential buyers, including Bickerton, had all pulled out and the club was still for sale.

The handling of Wrexham's business affairs has come under fire from fans, with the club recently banning critical banners from the ground.

On Saturday Wrexham lost 2-7 to Gateshead in the Blue Square Premier.

In recent weeks, the club said two groups of potential buyers had pulled out.

An announcement on 8 February said Van Morton Investments had withdrawn, with the club blaming negative publicity and abuse. The identities of those behind Van Morton Investments were not revealed officially.

Then a statement appeared on the club's website on Friday, 18 February, saying Bickerton, chief executive Tony Allan and commercial director Jon Harris had put in their own bid to buy the club.

The trio joined the board just three weeks previously at the end of January and current owner Geoff Moss and chairman Ian Roberts stepped down from the board at that stage.

The club now blames "Saturday's display of passion and emotion by the club's fans" for Bickerton, Harris and Allan withdrawing their purchase offer.

There was a tense atmosphere at Saturday's game as fans displayed critical banners in defiance of a ban by the club. Their anger has also been directed at the suggestion that former Chester City owner Stephen Vaughan might be among potential Wrexham investors.

Monday's announcements from Wrexham said Bickerton, Harris and Allan's bid had not been linked to Stephen Vaughan and that Moss and Roberts' preference would be to sell to a fan-based consortium but time would be "critical" for any potential purchase.

"They [Wrexham] appreciate that the fans are very worried about the club's future and leadership" the club said.

Meanwhile Wrexham Supporters' Trust say they have held "productive" talks with Wrexham Town Council about the future ownership of the club, and spokesman Lindsay Jones urged Moss and Roberts to talk to the council too.

"Our fear is that it could go into administration again and fold. We have to find a way to secure the future of Wrexham FC and the Racecourse [ground]," Mr Jones said.

Mr Jones said the supporters' trust were hoping to organise a public meeting in the town on 14 March to put forward ideas and consult people about how the club could be developed with more community involvement.

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E-mail this to a friend Printable version see also Wrexham 2-7 Gateshead 19 Feb 11 |  Non League Would-be Wrexham buyers withdraw 08 Feb 11 |  Wrexham Wrexham reveal sale is imminent 31 Jan 11 |  Wrexham BBC Sport Wales coverage 03 Oct 11 |  Wales related bbc links: BBC Local: North East Wales Wrexham weather BBC Sport Non League related internet links: Wrexham AFC Football Association of Wales The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites Skip to top PRODUCTS & SERVICES Daily and weekly e-mails Mobiles Desktop Tools News feeds Interactive TV Podcasts A-Z of Sports American Football Archery Athletics Badminton Baseball Basketball Bowls Boxing Canoeing Cricket Cycling Darts Disability sport Diving Equestrian Fencing Football Formula 1 Gaelic Games Golf Gymnastics Handball Hockey Horse Racing Ice Hockey Judo Modern Pentathlon MotoGP Motorsport Netball Rowing Rugby League Rugby Union Sailing Shooting Snooker Squash Swimming Table Tennis Taekwondo Tennis Triathlon Volleyball Weightlifting Winter Sports Wrestling blq.setLabel('searchSuggestion', 'Search BBC Sport');

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