 Football has been played at the Racecourse since 1872 |
JUNE 2002: Alex Hamilton's company, Crucialmove Limited, acquires the freehold of Wrexham's Racecourse Ground. MAY 2004: Property developer Mr Hamilton takes over as chairman of Wrexham FC.
AUGUST: Wrexham FC debts of over �3m are revealed. Mr Hamilton said the club needs to sell its Racecourse ground and move to a new stadium. Fans voice concerns.
OCTOBER: The Inland Revenue tries to wind up club over its tax bill. Mr Hamilton resigns as chairman but remains owner.
NOVEMBER: Fans' buy-out plan is rejected.
 Alex Hamilton lost High Court action over the ground ownership |
DECEMBER: With debts of over �4m, Wrexham FC is placed in administration. Under new rules the club is deducted 10 points by the Football League.
MAY 2005:: Wrexham are relegated from League One.
JUNE: Administrators begin legal action to force Mr Hamilton's company hand back ownership of the ground.
SEPTEMBER: Surrey property developer Andy Smith and a consortium led by Wrexham car dealer Neville Dickens, with partner Geoff Moss, emerge as possible rival buyers for the club.
OCTOBER: Administrators win a legal fight to seize control of the Racecourse. High Court rules Mr Hamilton should not have transferred the freehold into one of his companies.
Denbighshire businesswoman Stephanie Booth emerges as a possible backer of Mr Dickens' plans to buy the club.
DECEMBER: Mr Hamilton wins right to appeal
MARCH 2006: The Appeal Court in London rules that the stadium must remain in the hands of the club's administrators
 Administrator David Acland (left) was at the club for 20 months |
The Dickens consortium signs an "exclusivity" agreement with the administrators to negotiate a takeover.
APRIL: Plans unveiled to develop part of the ground for flats and retail.
MAY: Club creditors back the deal.
JUNE: Football League vote not to expel the club and to accept the takeover plans. The ground redevelopment plans are backed by Wrexham council.
AUGUST 1: A proposed loan to the consortium from property tycoon Steve Morgan, also a shareholder with Liverpool, creates a "conflict of interest" issue, which leads to talks with the Premier League, as a deadline to sell the club by 5 August looms.
AUGUST 3: The final hurdles are overcome and the deal is signed at 1620 BST. Wrexham come out of administration and have new owners.