FORMER Chester City owner Stephen Vaughan claims he is part of a bid to buy a controlling stake in Wrexham FC.
The Liverpool-based businessman said yesterday he is one of a four-man consortium that is currently putting together an offer to buy a 100 per cent controlling interest in the club.
But current club vice-chairman and part-owner Geoff Moss said he knew nothing about any such offer.
And the 650-strong Wrexham Supporters’ Trust made it clear it would not welcome the move.
Mr Vaughan took over as chairman and majority shareholder of Chester City in 2001 but following relegation to the Blue Square Premier League last year the club was finally wound up at the High Court in March over an unpaid tax bill.
He told the Leader: “Wrexham FC is up for sale and I have been approached to join the consortium that is putting in a bid for it.
“They have offered me a stake of around 30 per cent in the special purpose vehicle which has been put together to make the bid.
“The offer will be made to the club via our legal people within the next seven days.
“I would be involved strictly as an investor and would have no part in the day-to-day running of the club.”
He added: “As far as ownership is concerned we would put in the relevant funds that the club requires.
“However, it is the owners’ choice if they want to sell.”
While Mr Vaughan would not reveal who the other three members of the consortium are, he said they were all from the north of England and that “every one is a football person”.
Speaking of his past involvement with Chester City, he said: “I put nine years of my life into the club and £5 million of my own money.
“I never took a penny out. I was let down by a shower of fools who hit their own self-destruct button.”
Mr Vaughan is currently involved with boxing promotions in Liverpool and runs a residential lettings company in that area.
Geoff Moss said: “I have not had any contact with Stephen Vaughan and know nothing about an offer from any consortium he might be involved in.
“I do know him from football circles and he did approach us once before – three or four years ago – to buy the club but nothing came of it.
“The club is for sale and we have had a couple of enquiries but none, as far as I know, have been from Mr Vaughan.
“Let’s just wait and see if he does make an offer.”
Lindsay Jones, a spokesman for Wrexham Supporters’ Trust, said: “When a club is up for sale all sorts of people come forward with offers.
“The trust is aware of Mr Vaughan and we can say categorically that he would not be welcome here under any circumstances.
“Mr Moss needs to sit down with the trust and discuss a sensible exit strategy – one that puts the club first.”
A PROTEST against the current club board is being organised at Wrexham’s game against Luton tomorrow.
A message on social networking website Facebook says: “The time has come for our voices to be heard, Wrexham Village will make around £40 million from the student development over time and Wrexham FC could end up going bust.”
Mr Moss said: “I don’t know who is organising this protest or what they hope to achieve by it.”