11 December 2003
By David Lovett
 |
| Mark Guterman |
|
Denis has done a fantastic job for us and I believe he will take this club up into the first division
|
WREXHAM manager Denis Smith will take the club into the first division.
That’s the confident prediction of chairman Mark Guterman, who believes Smith is
the man to help bring back thousands to The Racecourse.
Guterman said: “Denis has done a fantastic job for us and I believe he will take this club up into the first division. I don’t know when - but it will happen.” Guterman was speaking at a lunch given yesterday to mark a milestone in Smith’s 22-year managerial career.
He is now only one of 10 post-war managers to have managed 1,000 games. The others are Sir Matt Busby, Alec Stock, Brian Clough, Graham Taylor, Jim Smith, Dario Gradi, Lennie Lawrence, Dave Bassett and Alan Buckley.
Guterman said: “I believe we have got an outstanding manager and this award today shows the calibre of the man. Football management is a precarious job at the best of times, but Denis Smith has survived. That shows the character of the man. He can’t be doing an awful lot wrong, can he?”
Smith received a cut-glass memento from John Barnwell, chief executive of the League Managers’ Association. He said: “There are very few post-war people to have managed 1,000 games in the English game. We think Denis may possibly be the last modern manager to achieve this because of the nature of the job.”
Smith said: “I am delighted to receive this and it will take pride of place in my new house.” Proudly watching were his sons, Paul and Tom.
The lunch meant Smith and his assistant, Kevin Russell, missed the reserves’ 3-1 win yesterday at Carlisle. Chris Armstrong scored two but limped off before the end with a knee injury. Wrexham also lost centre-back Steve Roberts injured in the opening minutes.
Armstrong has been plagued by a troublesome achilles’ injury all season. His latest injury is not thought to be serious but it is yet another setback for the former Premiership striker.
Smith still hopes to include Armstrong in his squad to face Peterborough United at The Racecourse on Saturday. His fitness, however, will have to be checked, but Roberts seems unlikely to even make the 16-strong squad. Craig Morgan is also doubtful with a hamstring injury.
Smith said: “We’ll just have to wait and see, but obviously the lack of goals so far has been a problem. But anyone who knows anything about the game should have realised that when we lost a lad, who scored 34 goals last season, and another striker, who could also get goals.”
Andy Morrell left to join first division Coventry City at the end of last season and Lee Trundle rejoined Brian Flynn, now director of football at Swansea City. Both left the club for no fees under the so-called Bosman ruling.
