Wrexham Evening Leader

Hitting the headlines
By Richard Williams, Evening Leader

16/11/04

Denis SmithRAISING Wrexham’s profile is one way of finding a potential buyer for the club.

That was Reds’ manager Denis Smith’s view today after hearing Wrexham’s FA Cup second round tie at Scunthorpe on Friday December 3 will be shown live on Sky.

That could earn Wrexham £100,000 and despite the threat of administration and tomorrow’s possible winding up order over an unpaid tax bill, Smith was staying positive at such a crucial time.

Smith said: “It’s a massive boost the game being shown live on Sky and will bring more attention to our plight.

“Hopefully someone out there will see what’s happening and come in and save the club.

“Any money is useful and this raises our profile further. It helps when proposing a rescue package.

“But we are not a company with no money. We’ll have the Sky money, money from the league and gate receipts from Saturday’s game against Bristol City.

“There is one thing that can change everything though. We have got to get the ground back into the club.

“I know everyone wants to save the club but without a ground you can’t play football.”

Wrexham’s financial troubles are now making national news.

And although Smith would prefer to be in the limelight celebrating good news, he says it can only help Wrexham and increase awareness of smaller clubs.

"It would be better if we had got to the quarter-finals of the FA Cup, or we were running away with the league and on an unbeaten run," Smith added. "But we need people to realise what's happening here and that's important for football.

"We need football in this country - not just the Premiership and the few big clubs at the top.

"There has to be more to it than that. It has to be played and enjoyed at all levels."

Smith has spent a lot more time away from the football side of things at the Racecourse as Wrexham finds itself in the most critical period in its history.

And he says the players are bound to be affected by what is happening around them -except when they step on a football pitch.

Smith said: "The last month, I have done a lot more than just the football side of things.

"I don't want to do that but what is happening affects us all so you have to do what you can to help.

"Day to day I should be trying to win matches and prepare the players.

"But the players want to know what's happening off the pitch and rightly so. They have to be kept informed.

"While at training or in matches they can get away from it.

"But outside that they see the cameras here, read newspapers, are not getting paid fully and have mortgages to pay. So they are affected.

"People are asking them what's going on at Wrexham. They are only human beings and you have to remember it's their job."

Dean Bennett yesterday underwent a hernia operation while Craig Morgan, who has recovered from an ankle injury, was off ill.

Striker Chris Armstrong had a scan on a persistent Achilles injury and Smith added: "Chris is still having problems and we are having to manage him and not let him over do it.

"That's why I took him off early at Hayes and he's not doing the same training as everyone else.

"Any information we get from the scan helps."

Meanwhile Wrexham missed out last night when a record crowd turned up at Telford to watch Steven Gerrard's return from injury for Liverpool reserves against Wolves.

Wrexham switched the game because of Sunday's Scarlets rugby match - and Telford reaped the rewards, attracting a gate of 6,200 plus to the New Bucks Head.