07 December 2002

Smith Pledges his Future to Wrexham

DENIS SMITH has pledged to take Wrexham forward after agreeing a two-year contract extension at the Racecourse.

Smith, whose current deal is up at the end of this season, has accepted a two-year extension and is expected to put pen to paper next week.

He said, "I'm very pleased to have agreed a new deal after meeting with the Wrexham board.

"I'm glad to have my future sorted out and to know that I will be staying to build on what we have been able to achieve so far.

"Mark Guterman (chairman) and the board want to move the club forward and I hope that we will be able to match that on the field. He is as enthusiastic to see Wrexham succeed as I am and that can only be good for all of us.

"This is a lovely place to come and work and, after years of battling at other clubs to get decent training facilities, someone else has done the hard work here so that I can enjoy the benefits of that now.

"As far as my contract is concerned-I'm pretty easy to deal with. I don't have an agent.

"We all have to be realistic and look at ways to move the club forward on the money that is available. I wanted to start planning my pre-season in January and, with a large number of players out of contract next summer, it's important that we start addressing their contracts in the months ahead.

"Like myself, the players will find there is little extra money to be had for contracts but I want to keep as many of them as possible. I believe we have the basis of a very good squad - one that I only want to build on and add to.

"I'm ambitious and can assure supporters that I have not come here to retire. I'm here to take the club forward, win promotion as soon as possible and then push on in the second division."

Smith will sign when he returns from a short family holiday, as the Dragons have a break in the calendar this weekend.

He joined Wrexham in October 2001 following the resignation of Brian Flynn and was at the helm throughout one of the most difficult periods at the club with relegation, a change in ownership and players having to be sold to balance the books.

Wrexham chief executive David Rhodes said, "I think it gives everybody a bit of stability. Denis can plan forward now with what he wants to do with players.

"We're obviously very happy at the club with the work Denis has put in and delighted that he's staying on."

 

 

 

Denis Smith

Denis Smith

 

I will be staying to build on what we have been able to achieve so far

 

 

 

David Rhodes

David Rhodes

 

Denis can plan forward now with what he wants to do with players