Politician 'lends Wrexham £500k'

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A prominent assembly member has confirmed he has loaned a large sum - thought to be about £500,000 - to Wrexham Football Club.

Wrexham AM Dr John Marek said the loan was to purely help ensure the future of the club and that he would not make money from it.

The club came out of administration when it was bought by a consortium.

Mr Marek said he did not have to declare the loan as he is not a club director and will not profit from it.

"My view is if I speak about football in the assembly I think it would be right and fair of me to mention this loan in the interests of openness and honesty," he said.

Wrexham FC, a League Two club, had been financially-stricken 18 months. It was saved in an 11th hour deal in August when it was bought by a consortium headed by local businessman Neville Dickens.

The club went into administration in 2004 with debts of around £4m.

Football League rules state that clubs must not remain in administration for more than 18 months.

A former MP, Dr Marek became the first independent AM after defeating his former party, Labour, in the elections in 2003.

After being deselected he set up his own party Forward Wales. He is also the assembly's deputy presiding officer.