WREXHAM FC owner Alex Hamilton was due to meet a fans' consortium today to consider their takeover plans.

The Cheshire-based property developer, who claimed former business partner Mark Guterman was also putting together a buy-out bid, revealed a third, as-yet unidentified, contender had expressed an interest in purchasing the League One club.

Mr Hamilton, who holds a 78% stake in the Racecourse club and also owns the freehold to the stadium, resigned as chairman on Friday following a boardroom dispute with fellow directors David Griffiths and Dave Bennett.

The Wrexham-based businessmen vetoed Mr Hamilton's plan to appoint his personal assistant Gail Stubbs to the board, prompting him to immediately tender his written resignation.

To regain control of the club, Mr Hamilton would have to call an extraordinary general meeting of shareholders, which requires a minimum of 21 days notice to be valid, in order to seek their removal and his re-appointment. Mr Hamilton once again faced a fans protest after Saturday's home match against Hull City.

The two remaining directors have pledged to try to keep the club afloat, despite its bank account being frozen last week after an Inland Revenue winding-up petition was issued over a £900,000 unpaid tax bill.

Mr Bennett said the immediate priority was to seek a meeting with the Inland Revenue in a bid to stave off the closure threat.

He added that Saturday's attendance of 5,600 fans for Wrexham's home match against Hull City demonstrated there was a viable future for the troubled club.

"As directors we want to thank the fans for supporting us on Saturday and pay tribute to Denis Smith and his players for their contribution to a very entertaining match," he said.

"This in turn added something extra to the special atmosphere at the Racecourse. We hope they will continue to show their support for the club in these difficult times."

Wrexham Supporters' Trust, formed to oppose Mr Hamilton's original proposal for selling the Racecourse site for redevelopment, is working jointly with a building company to put together its buy-out plan.

The Trust believes there is scope for a limited amount of residential development, coupled with the construction of a new stand, on the existing land.

A spokesman said: "We think we've got something good.

"Now we want to meet Alex Hamilton to put it to him. It is quite a complicated deal but it all works out."

Confirming his interest in hearing what WST has to say, Mr Hamilton added that another potential investor had emerged after making initial contact through Mr Griffiths, who owns the region's biggest glazing specialist firm.

He declined to elaborate, saying: "He is a man of serious substance and calibre."