Tranmere's Point Of View On Wrexham

By Jackson
January 8 2005

Total Tranmere have a first and exclusive. I have very luckily found a Rovers fan who lives in Wrexham and knows all about their current situation. He has agreed to do an article on Wrexham financial crisis and also agreed to do updates every week, I am very grateful to have this unique contact.

Tranmere’s League One rivals Wrexham avoided the threat of liquidation on Friday but unfortunately it has come at a price. In order to avoid going out of business completely, the club applied to enter administration on Friday and their application was accepted resulting in a deduction of10 League Points. This has plunged the Dragons to third from bottom of the League One Table ahead of only MK Dons on goal difference and Stockport.

Wrexham have been struggling to meet financial demands and in particular an income tax bill thought to be around £800,000 which was the reason behind the winding-up order they faced in court last Friday. Any hopes that someone would make a bid for the club before their Friday date with destiny proved to be unfounded leaving administration as the only other alternative to going out of business completely. Under new Football League Rules introduced before this season began, any team entering administration will be deducted 10 points.

It is thought though that Wrexham have good grounds for an appeal against the deduction with the argument that the situation that they have found themselves in is not entirely of their own making. It is believed though that any such appeal could cost the club a further £5000 that they can ill afford to spend at the moment.

Chairman Alex Hamilton has been trying to sell off Wrexham’s Racecourse Ground for development with fans arguing that he is trying to end football in Wrexham altogether and many Dragon’s fans are adamant that Hamilton has little interest in the football side of affairs at Wrexham F.C.

It therefore remains to be seen whether Wrexham will appeal against the deduction but the League One Table as it stands at the moment does not look good for Wrexham fans.

To cap an awful Friday for football in Wrexham, they were also knocked out of the F.A Cup at the second round stage at League Two side Scunthorpe although they have reached the Area Semi-Finals of the LDV Vans Trophy to give them some hope of a much needed cash boost through a visit to Cardiff in the final.

Tranmere visit the Racecourse in League One on Saturday January 15^th

 

League One Table – Thurs 2 December (Pre-Administration)

Pld GD              

16 Wrexham   19 -7 24

17 Port Vale        19 -9 23

18 Oldham          19 -3 22

19 Barnsley         19 -2 21

20 Torquay         19 -7 21

21 Peterborough  19 3 20

22 Blackpool        19 -6 18

23 MK Dons         19 -16 14

24 Stockport       19 -22 10

League One Table – Fri 3 December (Post-Administration)

Pld GD Pts

19 Torquay           19 -7 21

20 Peterborough    19 3 20

21 Blackpool         19 -6 18

22 Wrexham         19 -7 14

23 MK Dons          19 -16 14

24 Stockport        19 -22 10