Football club's £1.2m sell-off
The "heartbroken" owner of Wyrley Rangers today told how the time was right to stand down after 19 years during which he built an impressive club from scratch – but he hopes the £1.2 million sell-off will signal a new era for the team. The "heartbroken" owner of Wyrley Rangers today told how the time was right to stand down after 19 years during which he built an impressive club from scratch – but he hopes the £1.2 million sell-off will signal a new era for the team. Nadir Imamoglu, a former Turkish professional footballer, has been a prominent civic figure, serving as Wyrley Parish Council chairman, a Staffordshire county councillor and even designing and building the Gallipoli memorial at the National Arboretum in Lichfield. But his first love was always football and the man who put Great Wyrley on the amateur football map would love nothing more than the Rangers' name to be carried on. Speaking exclusively to the Express & Star, Mr Imamoglu, who co-owns the club with his son Greg, said: "If someone is interested in buying the premises, they can build on what we have done in the last 19 years." Read the full story in the Express & Star.
Nadir Imamoglu, a former Turkish professional footballer, has been a prominent civic figure, serving as Wyrley Parish Council chairman, a Staffordshire county councillor and even designing and building the Gallipoli memorial at the National Arboretum in Lichfield.
But his first love was always football and the man who put Great Wyrley on the amateur football map would love nothing more than the Rangers' name to be carried on.
Speaking exclusively to the Express & Star, Mr Imamoglu, who co-owns the club with his son Greg, said: "If someone is interested in buying the premises, they can build on what we have done in the last 19 years.
"It breaks my heart to be giving it up but I am 60. My health is not as good as it once was, even though I played until the age of 55, so I am retiring.
"We have achieved success both on and off the pitch. The facilities are outstanding for a club of this level and it could also be used for other sports or as a restaurant because the site has planning permission for leisure use."
Founded in 1988, the club joined the West Midlands Regional League. After one season, the team left to play in the Wolverhampton Combination, rejoining the West Midlands League in 2001.
Two years later, they absorbed Marston Wolves.
In the 2004/5 season, they saw a run of 12 successive wins rocket them to third in the Division One table.
They were later promoted to the Premier League.