Memo to Citizen Smith (Pt 2)

Corporate hospitality:

Ex-director Geoff Farrell correctly stated in a recent interview with the Daily Post that courting big business is not something that the club has undertaken with much enthusiasm. This is a shame as there are a number of large national and multi-national organisations with bases in north-east Wales, notably Airbus UK, Iceland Frozen Foods, Toyota, Kelloggs, Sharp Electronics, JCB, Brother, Shotton Paper and just across the border the likes of Shell, Vauxhall, MBNA Bank etc - many of whom employ a sizable proportion of people from the Wrexham area. I feel that despite the club's current Division 2 status, it is in a unique position as the only league club in North Wales and this is something that should be promoted to the full. Ultimately, however, the most likely carrot for potential sponsors would be the greater spotlight and increased opportunity for national TV coverage offered by a return to the 1st Division and/or a place in the UEFA Cup.

Continuing with the corporate hospitality theme, the club has in the PGS eight individual executive boxes complete with chairs, a large table, TV and refrigerator. Almost a mini- boardroom in fact! Coupled with the European Suite, these boxes could be offered for hire, perhaps for meetings, interviews, open days etc in much the same way as groups hire out hotel rooms and function rooms.

Stadium events: In addition to Dragons matches, the Racecourse has increasingly been used for other sports, notably rugby of both codes at full and 'A' level. This has been successful and should be pursued further. Additionally, there is the possibility of offering the stadium for pop and rock concerts. This is obviously an area that a number of clubs have ventured into recently, notably those with newer or predominantly all-seater venues. None of these, however, are closer than Manchester or Stoke and in this respect Wrexham would be able to provide a convenient venue serving the whole of North and Mid Wales, capable of holding perhaps in the region of 20-30,000 people assuming the pitch was utilised.

Merchandising:

One of the biggest problems I feel is the club shop. While former Commercial Manager Allan Thomas told Red Passion that he considered the shop sufficient in size for current demands, I cannot agree. Firstly, it is situated in the wrong place. In the car park it does not attract passing trade from the Mold Road, nor does it particularly attract supporters on matchdays. The vast majority of fans who come to the Racecourse do so on foot from the Mold Road side of the ground and enter either the Kop or the PGS without having to go anywhere near the club car park. Even those who use the Sainsburys Stand enter via turnstiles that are encountered before the shop is reached. This problem is compounded due to lack of access around the rear of the away end on matchdays, admittedly for sensible reasons. But, unfortunately, the consequence of all this is that very few people, including myself, actually pass the shop without making a special diversion to visit it.

The second problem with the shop is its size and layout. It is far too small (about the size of my own living room). Once you've got about ten people in, it's full. It is basically in a time warp, with practically all products on display behind the counter; this is the very antithesis of most new shops which encourage people to walk around, pick items up to look at, and try them on etc. Obviously this is not possible in a shop like Wrexham's; when you have a dozen people, two or three deep at the counter, there is absolutely no incentive to enter the premises. It is difficult to suggest a practical solution to this problem without necessitating major expenditure on building extensions etc. Perhaps there are a few internal walls that could be knocked down to enlarge the shop or relocate it? However, when the Kop is eventually redeveloped, the provision of a new club shop - perhaps facing the Turf car park - should be seriously considered. Considering the limitations of the present shop, I feel it is vital that the club adequately publicises the range of merchandise available. The sensible way forward here, I feel, would be to dedicate a permanent page in the matchday programme to a price list of items available, together with information relating to new lines and special offers etc. The scoreboard and tannoy system could also be used to good effect here.

General hospitality:

Red Passion has sponsored an array of matches and matchballs over the last three years and a good number of people have enjoyed a bucks fizz reception, a meal with wine, a seat in the Directors Box, and free programme together with half-time tea, gift and commemorative photos. Why not offer a similar package to the average punter, but without the sponsorship part; to include basically a three- course meal with wine and a seat in the executive part of the Sainsburys Stand. This may be especially popular with executive white-collar types at evening games, who may not always work fixed hours and who often find that by the time they have got home, changed and eaten, it is too late to make it to the match.

I apologise to Mr Smith if I appear to have 'gone off on one' here. I simply feel that it is a good opportunity to raise a few thoughts. I hope he welcomes the suggestions. As a final note, regular readers of Red Passion will be well aware of the club's acute failure to respond to suggestions and correspondence in the past. I sincerely hope that the new regime at the club will be able to do something to rectify this.

Paul Lindsay