Alex Hamilton
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- For the U.S. Secretary of Treasury see Alexander Hamilton
Alex Hamilton is a British property developer who became the chairman of Wrexham Association Football Club in May 2004, when he took over from his former business associate, Mark Guterman, who also uses the alias Mark Gutterman.
Upon his appointment, Wrexham fans expressed fears that the Racecourse Ground in Wrexham could be sold for development. The football club have been playing at the Racecourse Ground ever since it was formed in September 1872, except for two years, 1881-83. Supporters repeatedly voiced concerns over Hamilton's motives in assuming the chairmanship, many supporters believing without evidence that Hamilton's intention was to destroy the football club and capitalise on the land value.
Wrexham fans began a programme of cover protests, marching through his home town of Halebarns, piling empty boxes outside his house and repeatedy ordering taxis to his home. One fan, Mr Kenneth Pemberton, bought a taxi, painted it pink and turquoise, and labelled it the 'Crazy Taxi for Crazy Hamilton'. Hamilton responded to the protests by calling fans "Luddite terrorists who should be locked up in cages" and accused them of behaving like "Moslem terrorists" who hid behind masks. Fans trespassed at Hamilton's home, he received many death threats. Hamilton had his mail stolen, which gave Wrexham fans the whereabouts of his forthcoming holiday which he claimed they terrorised with phone calls throughout his two week stay. During a stay in hospital, fans posed as his son to bombard him with phone calls.
On September 20, 2004, Hamilton gave the club, of which he was still the Chairman, notice to quit the Racecourse Ground, the ownership of which had by then been transferred to a separate company, owned by Hamilton.
Hamilton resigned as Chairman on October 29, 2004, but retained his 78% share in the club. Throughout this period Wrexham fans formed a supporters trust, WST, which raised money to eventually own a stake in the club. A fanzine was also born from another group of disgruntled fans who were concerned about Hamilton and Guterman's intentions, the fanzine was named "Dismal Jimmy" and Hamilton blamed much of the disputes on the "Dismal Jimmy mob" who encouraged Wrexham fans to fight outside the law to save their club.
More recently the Administrators who had been appointed to look after Wrexham FC took Hamilton to court over the transfer of ownership of the Racecourse Ground, and Judge Norris agreed that Hamilton had acted improperly.
For fans who had fought to save their club from property developer Hamilton, this result was the best that they could have wished for. Hamilton appealed against Judge Norris' decision. However, the Court of Appeal confirmed the lower court's decision and returned the ground to the club, leaving local businessmen Neville Dickens and Geoff Moss to buy the club. Two days later on the 5th of August Wrexham and 500 fans travelled to Wycombe for the first game of the season at Wycombe, the score finished 1-1 with Mark Jones getting on the scoresheet, the match would be more remembered for the carnival atmosphere the wrexham fans created celebrating the club now being under new hands and out of adminastration.
