Wrexham to retain stadium

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Club owner Alex Hamilton is to appeal against a legal ruling that took ownership of the Racehorse Ground stadium out of his hands and gave it back to the club, which is currently in administration. Judge Norris QC at Birmingham High Court ruled against Hamilton, a property developer, who had wanted to sell the freehold to the stadium, owned by his company CrucialMove, and to redevelop the ground for commercial and residential purposes. Hamilton became the club’s chairman on 2004, but by the end of that year the club had gone into administration owing creditors in excess of GBP 4m.

The court ruled that CrucialMove should not have bought the freehold of the stadium, but Hamilton can still petition the Court of Appeal against the ruling. The club’s administrator Begbies Traynor can now proceed with the sale of the club, but Hamilton must be paid GBP 300,000 from the proceeds.

Hamilton's solicitors, Manchester-based Berg Legal, contacted the administrator to inform that the Hamilton would be appealing. Neville Dickens, the man many club fans would love to see assume control, expressed bitter disappointment at Hamilton's determination to fight the Court ruling. David Acland, of Begbies Traynor, told a press conference that there were still "fairly huge obstacles to overcome" in selling the club and that the Court action had delayed the process. He said they had hoped to be in the current position by July and now wish to sell the club by Christmas.