THERE is a strangely familiar new face at Wrexham FC helping to boost the club’s fortunes off the pitch.
Phil Jones has been appointed commercial manager and becomes one of the latest former producers of the matchday programme to secure a top job at the club.
Club secretary Geraint Parry said: “As commercial manager Phil will be dealing with duties such as advertising, sponsorship and hospitality.”
Mr Jones has a long association with the club dating back more than 25 years.
In the early 1980s Mr Parry, Mr Jones and the man who is now chief executive David Roberts were all friends and enthusiastic Wrexham fans who used to create the club’s programme.
“We were supporters who wanted to do our bit for Wrexham. We didn’t have millions of pounds to give so instead offered to help out and ended up producing the programme, which won awards. It was a real team effort.
“It is funny that after all those years we are now all back at the club,” said Mr Parry.
l The Wrexham Supporters Trust, who took over the running of the club last November, will soon be launching a community share scheme aimed at boosting its coffers.
WST chairman Peter Jones said: “Money raised will be used to shore up the financial backing of the club, and will only be for an emergency, but it’s nice to know that it is there if we need it.
“We are looking to raise £100,000 by the end of March and £300,000 by this time next year. Shares will cost £100, and can only be bought by members of the trust who are the club owners. That figure currently stands at just under 2,000.
“Fundraising also continues. This is still an important part of the club’s finances going forward. Last summer saw us raise almost £25,000 when almost 200 fans completed a sponsored walk up Snowdon in unbelievable conditions. A Christmas raffle saw us raise almost £20,000. Our next big fundraiser is a concert at the William Aston Hall on Saturday, February 25, which the Froncysyllte Male Voice Choir and guest singer Andrew Griffiths have kindly agreed to put on for us.”
The choir’s vice-chairman Dave Jones said: “We have been aware of the situation at the football club for some time now.
“Many of the choir, including myself, are fans and season ticket holders, and they have all been keen to help in some way. We felt doing a concert for the club would be of help to the trust, and we hope there will be a large turnout for what will be a memorable concert for us all.”
Tickets are £10, and available from the trust and club shops, the tourist information office in the town centre, and online at www.wst.org. uk.
Since it started in 2003 Mr Jones said the WST has gone on to raise almost £600,000.
l Wrexham FC has secured another delivery of the home red shirts featuring the Glyndwr sponsorship logo. They went on sale yesterday and there was a queue at the club shop first thing in the morning with fans eager to buy them.