FOOTBALL: Fan SCENE: Time for answers; Guterman can't keep fans in dark any longer.

Byline: JONATHAN MCEVOY

IF the Saatchis were the Rolls Royce of the PR world, then Wrexham must be Basil Fawlty's bone-shaking mini.

What other conclusion is there after Mark Guterman sent his apologies for absence to the fans' Wrexham Revival meeting intended to help generate funds for the cash-conscious Dragons?

His excuse: ``club business in Manchester''.

The more cynical might think that's a bit too convenient to be true. I couldn't possibly comment.

But, tell us Mark, what was so crucial that it couldn't be conducted at some other time, especially when you had good notice of the meeting?

What could be so pressing that you, your consultant John Reames as well as your sidekick and shop-keeper Bill Wingrove were all unavailable?

Swooping for Manchester United's Ronaldo?Perhaps not.

Surely, this demanding club business could wait an hour or two, so you could answer questions from concerned supporters. Or even tell them how they could help you.

After all, your refinancing package has been so long in the making that taking an evening out to meet the diehards isn't such a big deal in the overall scheme of things.

If hard questions were asked, the chairman should have been on hand to field them, rather than send in fellow directors Dave Bennett and Dave Griffiths to take the flak.

It's time for some answers from Guterman himself. Otherwise his credibility with those of us still prepared to offer him the benefit of the doubt is in danger of meltdown.

Guterman stated in the Daily Post on March 9 that he was involved in ambitious plans to develop the Racecourse. He said the club was staying put.

I believed him then and I believe him now. And I say that as someone he once threatened to take an injunction out against for reporting the club's cash flow problems -a menace he later withdrew.

His critics point to his inglorious spell at Chester City and claim he has his own agenda to ruin the club and fashion himself a fortune.

But why,if that were so, would he bring in the experienced football man Reames to help restructure the club?

The truth surely is that he wants the club to do well on the field and make money.

It's just that he hasn't yet convinced sceptical fans of his intentions.It's back to PR and information.

Of course,he can't divulge the contents of delicate negotiations about the refinancing deal,but some details can be put in the open.

For example, what has been the upshot of Reames' investigation into the way the club is run?

Guterman knows he can't wait long to reveal more about the cash injection, not only because the club desperately needs the money but because his credibility is on the line.

No one is more anxious to know what is going on than manager Den is Smith, who can't even broker new contracts with his players as a result of the financial uncertainty.

He has done sterling work on pocket money this season, but his patience must be pushed to the limit by the lack of funds. The presence of Reames -one of the FA's three wise men who banned George Graham from the game for taking bungs -is a positive influence .

I've only met him twice -once for lunch and briefly pre-match -but he clearly knows the game and acts as a brake on Guterman's more outlandish ideas.

With his sound advice, there is still hope Guterman can turn the club round.

The sooner he does that and reveals his plans -details and all -to a doubting audience the better.

After all the denials of a cash-crisis, briefing and counter-briefing that, finally, would be a PR coup.

CAPTION(S):

Busy Wrexham chairman Mark Guterman needs to make the time to tell fans how the club will be taken into the future