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TNS’s Harris is potential Welsh Wrexham suitor
England - 27 April, 2006
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Mike Harris, the TNS managing director, could make a late bid on Wales club Wrexham, possibly derailing Neville Dickens’s bid.
Under the terms of an “exclusivity deal” reached with the administrators, former Wrexham director Dickens has sole rights to negotiate for the club that has debts around GBP 4.5 million. But, on the eve of the Dickens’ deadline to conclude the deal to buy the club, Harris told the Western Mail he could “never say never” about a move for Wrexham.
The possibility of Harris entering the picture could mean a bidding war between Dickens and Harris.
“I was interested in looking at it a couple of years ago when Pryce was there,” Harris said. “My priority now is to ensure that the football club I'm the managing director of is ready for the Champions League.”
Harris still regards Dickens as the frontrunner to buy the club.
“From what I'm told, he has got an option on it, and I don't see any reason why he won't conclude that purchase,” Harris said.
Dickens believes interest from Harris is beside the point because of Dickens’ exclusivity deal with the administrators.
“We have an exclusivity period and until that expires the question is irrelevant,” Dickens said.
A source told the Western Mail that Harris was interested in Wrexham because buying the club would prove more cost-effective than financing his long-term plans for TNS. These involve moving the Llansantffraid-based club to a newly-built stadium in Oswestry.
Dave Acland, the League Two club’s joint administrator, said that under the terms of his deal with Wrexham car dealer Dickens, he was unable to comment on other possible suitors.
TNS and Oswestry Town merged in 2003, and since then, Harris has looked for sites in the Welsh border town capable of staging European matches. When the club was drawn against Liverpool in the Champions League this season they were not allowed to play at their Treflan home because the ground doesn't comply with UEFA standards.
At the time of the merger the club was hoping to find a new super stadium by 2005, but Harris hinted this could still be some way off. Harris, who said his club was hoping to eventually move to Oswestry, sold his communications company, TNS, from which the football club takes its name, to British Telecom last November.
Before the deal Harris’ company had revenues of GBP 13.9 million and assets of GBP 9.1 million for the year ending December 31, 2004. Harris has refused to say how much he made from the merger with BT.
It was announced that Harris would stay on with the merged company, BT TNS, for at least 18 months, and his with the club would not be affected.
Under the terms of an “exclusivity deal” reached with the administrators, former Wrexham director Dickens has sole rights to negotiate for the club that has debts around GBP 4.5 million. But, on the eve of the Dickens’ deadline to conclude the deal to buy the club, Harris told the Western Mail he could “never say never” about a move for Wrexham.
The possibility of Harris entering the picture could mean a bidding war between Dickens and Harris.
“I was interested in looking at it a couple of years ago when Pryce was there,” Harris said. “My priority now is to ensure that the football club I'm the managing director of is ready for the Champions League.”
Harris still regards Dickens as the frontrunner to buy the club.
“From what I'm told, he has got an option on it, and I don't see any reason why he won't conclude that purchase,” Harris said.
Dickens believes interest from Harris is beside the point because of Dickens’ exclusivity deal with the administrators.
“We have an exclusivity period and until that expires the question is irrelevant,” Dickens said.
A source told the Western Mail that Harris was interested in Wrexham because buying the club would prove more cost-effective than financing his long-term plans for TNS. These involve moving the Llansantffraid-based club to a newly-built stadium in Oswestry.
Dave Acland, the League Two club’s joint administrator, said that under the terms of his deal with Wrexham car dealer Dickens, he was unable to comment on other possible suitors.
TNS and Oswestry Town merged in 2003, and since then, Harris has looked for sites in the Welsh border town capable of staging European matches. When the club was drawn against Liverpool in the Champions League this season they were not allowed to play at their Treflan home because the ground doesn't comply with UEFA standards.
At the time of the merger the club was hoping to find a new super stadium by 2005, but Harris hinted this could still be some way off. Harris, who said his club was hoping to eventually move to Oswestry, sold his communications company, TNS, from which the football club takes its name, to British Telecom last November.
Before the deal Harris’ company had revenues of GBP 13.9 million and assets of GBP 9.1 million for the year ending December 31, 2004. Harris has refused to say how much he made from the merger with BT.
It was announced that Harris would stay on with the merged company, BT TNS, for at least 18 months, and his with the club would not be affected.
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