That manager-of-the-month

award was fatal

To mark the recent fixture at Roots Hall, the Southend FC matchday programme conducted an in-depth interview with www.red-passion.com Co-webmaster Mark Williams. Here it is in full:

Age? 24.

How long have you been a fan?
I have been supporting Wrexham regularly for just over ten years. My first game was back in 1989 against Scunthorpe in the Division 3 Play-Off Semi-Final. The game ended 3-1 with Ollie Kearns scoring twice although our current assistant manager Kevin Russell impressed the most with his pace. He scored twice in the second leg but we lost in the final to Orient. I think this was the final year of the two-leg play-off final, before it went to Wembley. And you could say that was typical of us!

Proudest moment as a Reds fan?
We have had a few over the last ten years with the cup runs. Arsenal was amazing and taking the lead at Old Trafford was unbelievable; but for me it was when we won the Welsh Cup Final at the old National Stadium in Cardiff (before it became the Millennium Stadium). We beat Cardiff 2-1 with Gary Bennett scoring twice. It was special because it meant we held the record for most overall wins and were the last of the English-based teams to play in Europe.

Tell us about Wrexham's start to the current season:
It started OK in August and we were superb in September with Andy Morrell scoring goals for fun. Since Denis Smith won the manager of the month award, it has been downhill with the major concern being our inability to hold on to leads. Thankfully, somebody else will soon have the manager of the month award, and the jinx!

Who are the Wrexham players to keep an eye on?
I would have said Andy Morrell but he has gone off the boil but still works hard. Darren Ferguson is a good passer of the ball and if you give him time and space in midfield he is likely to pick out a killer pass. Carlos Edwards has good skill on the right wing and Lee Trundle is due one of his special goals - he never scores a tap- in. You have been warned!

Any previous Southend memories?
A bad one but not because of Southend! It was the final day of the 1998/99 season and I think you were already relegated and we had to win to have any chance of getting a play-off place after blowing the chance of automatic promotion with our form through April. You took the lead but we ran out 3-1 winners. I had my radio on and all I can remember is Ian Payne going on about how we had got the last spot ahead of Bristol Rovers. I was gutted when I later found out that we had in fact missed out on goal difference. A Payne in the a*** you could say!

What type of game you are expecting against Southend?
I expect a close game. If our defence break the habit of a lifetime and defend as a unit, we have the players who can score at the other end to nick a narrow win. Whatever the result, a draw is no good for either team, as although the league has been very tight so far, I think it is about to split up and it is important for both teams that they do not fall behind the leaders.

Who do you think will go up this season?
Based on the teams we have played so far, Hartlepool and Rushden & Diamonds look the best bet. Then you get the teams who were relegated last season - Wrexham, Bury, Cambridge and Bournemouth - and they all look like they will be up there. Hull look dangerous since Peter Taylor has arrived. If I had to pick four, then I would go for Hartlepool, Rushden & Diamonds, Wrexham and Hull via the play-offs.

All time Wrexham XI?
As I have been only watching for ten years I will have to base it on the players of the last decade. A few of the older supporters will be pulling their hair out but I can only base it on what I have witnessed and not on what I have read in books: